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

[Monoxdifly]

What is 4 times hotter than -4 degrees celsius?
A. -16 degrees celsius
B. -1 degrees celsius
C. 12 degrees celsius
D. 16 degrees celsius

https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...degree-celsius-than-5-degrees-celsius.731713/

 

[Jameson]

What is 4 times hotter than -4 degrees celsius?
A. -16 degrees celsius
B. -1 degrees celsius
C. 12 degrees celsius
D. 16 degrees celsius

What are your thoughts on the question? :)

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

 

[Monoxdifly]

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.

 

[Jameson]

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.

 

[MarkFL]

I think this question is badly constructed,

I agree completely. (Nod)

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

 

[Monoxdifly]

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.