How do you convert degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius?

To convert degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius, the correct method involves subtracting 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature and then multiplying the result by 5/9. This formula arises from the relationship between the two temperature scales.

The temperature conversion formula can be expressed as:

Celsius = (Fahrenheit - 32) × 5/9

This approach works because the water freezing point in Celsius (0 degrees) corresponds to 32 degrees Fahrenheit and the boiling point (100 degrees Celsius) corresponds to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. By accounting for this offset of 32 first, you can effectively synchronize the two scales before adjusting for the difference in incremental steps, as the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales have different scaling rates.

While other methods may appear mathematically sound, they do not accurately reflect the conversion process, which is why they do not provide the correct result for this conversion.