The Fahrenheit scale is a measure of temperature primarily used in the United States, while the rest of the world uses the Celsius scale. There may be times when it is necessary to take a Fahrenheit temperature and convert it to Celsuis. To complete this by hand you'd use the formula (F - 32) (5/9) = C. Since this formula is not always simple to use and a calculator might not be available, another tool can help. Microsoft Excel has a simple way to complete this calculation using the Convert function.
Using the Convert Function
To use Microsoft Excel's Convert feature to change Fahrenheit to Celsius, follow these steps:
- In a blank Excel document, enter the temperature in Fahrenheit in the first cell of the first column.
- In the cell to the right of the Fahrenheit temperature, enter the formula =CONVERT(A1,"F","C").
- Click the Enter key on your keyboard to complete the conversion.
For example, if starting with the temperature 89 degrees Fahrenheit: Type 89 into the first cell. Type =CONVERT(A1,"F","C") in the cell beside that one. * Click Enter.
The converted temperature will show 31.67 degrees Celsius.
This Convert function makes Excel a handy tool for quickly converting between temperature scales.
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About the Author
With hands-on experience in the traditional classroom, the online setting, and the world of curriculum development, Jessica Smith is a veteran educator who is passionate about learning. Smith earned a M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction from Concordia University and is certified in mathematics and exceptional student education.
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