Write a Program to Convert Temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit in C

October 16, 2024

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Write a Program to Convert Temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit

Temperature conversion is a common task in programming that can help us better understand and manipulate data in various applications. One of the most common conversions is between Celsius and Fahrenheit. In this blog post, we will guide you through writing a C program that converts a given temperature in Celsius to Fahrenheit.

1. Understanding the Temperature Scale

Celsius and Fahrenheit are two different scales for measuring temperature. The relationship between these two scales is given by the formula:

F = (C × 9/5) + 32

Where F is the temperature in Fahrenheit and C is the temperature in Celsius. This formula allows us to convert a temperature value from Celsius to its equivalent in Fahrenheit.

2. Problem Statement

Our task is to create a program that prompts the user to enter a temperature in Celsius and then calculates and displays the corresponding temperature in Fahrenheit.

3. Algorithm to Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit

Here’s a simple algorithm to achieve this:

Take a temperature value in Celsius as input from the user.
Use the conversion formula to calculate the temperature in Fahrenheit.
Display the result to the user.

4. Writing the Program

Let’s implement the algorithm in C.

Code Example: Celsius to Fahrenheit Conversion

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    float celsius, fahrenheit;

    // Prompt user to enter temperature in Celsius
    printf("Enter temperature in Celsius: ");
    scanf("%f", &celsius);

    // Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit
    fahrenheit = (celsius * 9 / 5) + 32;

    // Display the result
    printf("%.2f Celsius is equal to %.2f Fahrenheit.\n", celsius, fahrenheit);

    return 0;
}

Explanation of the Code

In this program:

We include the stdio.h header file for input/output functions.
We declare two float variables: celsius to store the temperature input by the user and fahrenheit to store the converted temperature.
We prompt the user to enter a temperature in Celsius and read the input using scanf.
We apply the conversion formula to calculate the temperature in Fahrenheit.
Finally, we display the result formatted to two decimal places using printf.

5. Example Output

Here’s an example of how the program works:

Enter temperature in Celsius: 25
25.00 Celsius is equal to 77.00 Fahrenheit.

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

When implementing this program, keep an eye out for the following common mistakes:

Incorrect Formula: Ensure you use the correct formula for conversion. Mixing up the constants can lead to incorrect results.
Input Format: Make sure to use the right format specifier in scanf (e.g., %f for floats).
Output Formatting: Use the appropriate format specifiers in printf to ensure your output is clear and readable.

7. Expanding the Program

Now that you have a basic program for temperature conversion, consider these ideas for expanding it:

Allow the user to convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius by adding an additional option.
Implement a function that can handle multiple temperature conversions in one go.
Add error handling for invalid input (e.g., non-numeric values).

8. Conclusion

In this post, we learned how to write a C program to convert temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit. We provided a clear code example, detailed explanations, and discussed common pitfalls to avoid.

Temperature conversion is a practical application that helps you understand how to manipulate and process data. With this knowledge, you can tackle more complex programming tasks in the future. Keep practicing and exploring new challenges!