MHB How Hot is 10 Degrees Celsius Compared to 5 Degrees Celsius?

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The discussion centers on the question of how to calculate a temperature that is four times hotter than -4 degrees Celsius. Participants highlight that multiplying temperatures in Celsius directly can lead to misleading results due to the scale differences, advocating for conversion to Kelvin for accurate calculations. The consensus is that the question is poorly constructed, as it does not yield a valid answer from the provided options. One participant humorously notes that they were misled by their own question, indicating a lack of clarity in the original premise. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the complexities of temperature scaling and the importance of using absolute temperature scales for such calculations.
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Monoxdifly said:
What is 4 times hotter than -4 degrees Celcius?
A. -16 degrees Celcius
B. -1 degrees Celcius
C. 12 degrees Celcius
D. 16 degrees Celcius

What are your thoughts on the question? :)

In general if something is hotter than another, which direction must it move towards?
 
Jameson said:
What are your thoughts on the question? :)

In general if something is hotter than another, which direction must it move towards?

Up. But -4 x 4 is -16, and even if I answer 16, a fourth of it is 4, not -4.
 
I think this question is badly constructed,

If you convert -4 degrees celsius to kelvin units, you'll get ~269.2. Multiplying by 4 then converting back to celsius gives an answer not on the list. However, 4 times a temperature in kelvin is different than 4 times a temperature in a different unit. Each unit has a different scale, so the 4x calculation could drastically differ.

My guess for the intended answer to this bad question would be C, but I'm very curious what the officially response is.
 
Jameson said:
I think this question is badly constructed,

I agree completely. (Nod)

Jameson said:
If you convert -4 degrees celsius to kelvin units, you'll get ~269.2. Multiplying by 4 then converting back to celsius gives an answer not on the list. However, 4 times a temperature in kelvin is different than 4 times a temperature in a different unit. Each unit has a different scale, so the 4x calculation could drastically differ.

My guess for the intended answer to this bad question would be C, but I'm very curious what the officially response is.

I was also inclined to used an absolute scale such as Kelvins (that avoids negative values), but of course that doesn't lead to any of the choices. :D
 
Jameson said:
My guess for the intended answer to this bad question would be C, but I'm very curious what the officially response is.

There's not any official response since it's a question I myself made up. In other words, I've been tricked by my own question.
 

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