When converting from Celsius to Fahrenheit, what is the first mathematical operation required?

To convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit, the formula used is ( F = C \times \frac{9}{5} + 32 ). Therefore, the first mathematical operation performed in this process after multiplying the Celsius temperature by ( \frac{9}{5} ) is to add 32 to the result. This addition adjusts the scaled Celsius value to fit the Fahrenheit scale.

The use of this addition reflects the necessary shift in the zero points of the two scales; the freezing point of water in Celsius (0 degrees) corresponds to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, adding 32 ensures that the conversion correctly aligns the two temperature systems. Therefore, the first operation after multiplying by ( \frac{9}{5} ) is indeed adding 32 to arrive at the final Fahrenheit temperature.