Temperature and Math

Temperature tells you how hot or cold something is. It is measured with a number and a unit, like 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Math helps us read thermometers, compare temperatures, and understand weather.

Reading a Thermometer

A thermometer has a scale with numbers. In the United States, we usually use Fahrenheit. Water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees.

Many other countries use Celsius. In Celsius, water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees. You can use a math formula to switch between the two.

Comparing Temperatures

Math helps us compare temperatures. If it was 45 degrees yesterday and 60 degrees today, it is 15 degrees warmer. That is subtraction.

Negative numbers show very cold temperatures. If it is negative 5 degrees, it is 5 degrees below zero. Going from negative 5 to positive 10 is a change of 15 degrees.

Fun Facts

• The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was minus 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit in Antarctica.
• Normal body temperature is about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The surface of the Sun is about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Did You Know?

There is a temperature where Fahrenheit and Celsius are the same number. It is minus 40 degrees! Minus 40 Fahrenheit equals minus 40 Celsius.