Your American History Reference Guide!
- -40 (number)

HistoryMania Information Site on -40 (number) American History American History Search        American History Browse welcome to our free resource site for all enthusiasts!

-40 (number)

Cardinal -40
Binary-101000 or 11011000
in two's complement
in a signed byte
Hexadecimal-28, or D8
in two's complement
in a signed byte

Minus forty is:

  • the temperature (in degrees) at which Celsius and Fahrenheit scales read the same; often referred to as 40 below.

This can be shown easily. To convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius, one subtracts 32, then multiples by 5/9. This is expressed mathematically as C = (5/9)(F − 32), where F = Fahrenheit and C = Celsius. Alternatively F = C(9/5) + 32 .

Therefore, to find this special temperature, choose a formula and set the variables equal, denoting a temperature that is the same in both scales:

      F = F(9/5) + 32
(−4/5)F = 32
      F = −40

or

     C = (5/9)(C − 32)
(9/5)C = C − 32
(4/5)C = −32
     C = −40

These are mathematically equivalent demonstrations.


Last updated: 07-25-2005 05:45:53
The contents of this article are licensed from Wikipedia.org under the
GNU Free Documentation License. How to see transparent copy
Search | Browse | Contact | Legal info