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Barbara is converting [tex]78^{\circ} F[/tex] to degrees Celsius. First, she subtracts 32 from 78. What is the next step?

A. Multiply 46 by [tex]\frac{5}{9}[/tex]
B. Multiply 46 by [tex]\frac{9}{5}[/tex]
C. Add 273 to 46
D. Subtract 273 from 46

Answer :

To convert degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius, Barbara is following a specific process. Here’s how it works:

1. Start with the temperature in Fahrenheit: Barbara starts with 78°F.

2. Subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature: The first step is to subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature because this accounts for the offset in the two temperature scales. So, Barbara does:

[tex]\[
78 - 32 = 46
\][/tex]

3. Multiply the result by [tex]\( \frac{5}{9} \)[/tex]: After subtracting 32, the next step is to multiply the result by [tex]\( \frac{5}{9} \)[/tex]. This conversion factor accounts for the difference in the size of the degree on the two scales. So, Barbara multiplies:

[tex]\[
46 \times \frac{5}{9}
\][/tex]

When you calculate this, you get approximately 25.56 degrees Celsius.

So, the conversion from 78°F to Celsius involves these steps, and the final temperature in Celsius is approximately 25.56°C. Therefore, the next correct step after subtracting 32 is to multiply 46 by [tex]\( \frac{5}{9} \)[/tex].

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