−40 (number)

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Decimal −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 unique temperature (in degrees) at which the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales read the same; it is often referred to as 40 below, which is short for "40 degrees below zero"

To convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius, one subtracts 32, then multiplies by 5/9. This is expressed mathematically as C = (5/9)(F − 32), or F = C(9/5) + 32. It is easily checked that if C = −40 then F = −40 and vice versa.

Using −40, the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature conversion formulae can be represented by the following:

 F = \frac{9}{5}(C + 40) - 40

and

 C = \frac{5}{9}(F + 40) - 40\,

which may be easier for mental calculation.

To prove that F = C, when either are equal to -40,

Let's let x = F and C

 \frac{9}{5}x + 32 = x

9x + 160 = 5x

4x = − 160

x = − 40