How to Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit
June 1, 2009 by Mary Jo Manzanares
Filed under Home & Living
I’m getting ready to head off to visit Europe in a couple weeks, and I am once again brushing up on the Celsius scale. I never can seem to remember if setting my air condition at 30 is good. . . or should it be 20. Ack! I’m going to either roast or freeze until I get this figured out.
Back through all my travel notes I go until I find the formula for converting Celsius to Fahrenheit. I always swear I’ll remember it, but it’s a good thing I keep it handy where I can look it up.
Here’s how it works:
Celsius temperature doubled, then add 30, and you’ll get Fahrenheit.
Examples:
- 15C X 2 + 30 = 60F (and this is the current temperature in Pienza tonight)
- 20C X 2 + 30 = 70F
- 30C X 2 + 20 = 80
While this isn’t an exact conversion, it’s close enough for most temperate needs that a traveler will have.
Photo credit: amandabbslater @flickr
One thing I always find useful in backward countries that still use Fahrenheit is that 28C = 82F (and also that -40 is the same for both, but by then you’re way past freezing anyway)
PS in your example, 30C should be 90F, which as you can see from the 28/82 rule, is not far out
Ooops — you’re right! I’ll go make that edit, because clearly math is not my strong suit. It also explains why I need a very simple way to figure it out.
Now this makes sense.
I once added 32 to the Celsius temperature and thought that was enough.
Wow, was I off.
I appreciate the calculation for my future wardrobe choices.
I’ve been through a lot of wrong calculations, too! And while I’d like to claim that I can remember this formula every time, the truth is that I have to go look it up every time I head off to Europe or Canada.
Hope it helps you!
The real formula is with 1.8 instead of 2, but we can do all those maths in our minds. The results using 2 multiplication are very close, so if we can’t get to the internet to check an Online temperature converter or we can’t use the calculator at least, the conversion with multiplication factor 2 remains the best way.