Hey, 98.6

[gameshowcongress]

My son who has been home for a couple of days sick but is getting better made an observation I had not noticed before. I'm thinking that it has been remarked upon before somewhere but my very cursory search on the web did not show it. What he noted was that normal human body temperature on the Fahrenheit scale looks the same upside down, at least on a digital display and ignoring the decimal point.

[ArtVark]

His name wouldn't be Keith, would it?

[gameshowcongress]

His name wouldn't be Keith, would it?

Nope, although that would provide futher symmetry!

[Sequin]

In the UK standard body temperature is usually stated as 98.4F - we're so much cooler than you colonials!

[Ken Jennings]

INTELLIGENT DESIGN!!! Actually, I agree with Chris, I've had doctors tell me that 98.4 or so is the new 98.6. That's right up there with Pluto not being a planet anymore.

[skullturfq]

I think I remember reading somewhere that the historical origin of the 98.6 figure is nothing more than an inappropriate use of significant digits.

98.6 Fahrenheit corresponds to 37.0 Celsius.

Apparently, so the story goes, somebody once noted that human body temperature is about 37 degrees Celsius.

However, when they made that observation, they weren't necessarily claiming that 37.0 was healthier than 36.9 or 37.1. There was an inherent margin of error in the number.

Then later, the 37 figure was "translated" to 98.6, when perhaps it would have been more appropriate to just say something like "between 98 and 99".

Then perhaps later on, people were able to pinpoint ideal body temperature more precisely. (I'm guessing also that it may differ slightly from individual to individual.)

[marpocky]

I think I remember reading somewhere that the historical origin of the 98.6 figure is nothing more than an inappropriate use of significant digits.

98.6 Fahrenheit corresponds to 37.0 Celsius.

Apparently, so the story goes, somebody once noted that human body temperature is about 37 degrees Celsius.

However, when they made that observation, they weren't necessarily claiming that 37.0 was healthier than 36.9 or 37.1. There was an inherent margin of error in the number.

Then later, the 37 figure was "translated" to 98.6, when perhaps it would have been more appropriate to just say something like "between 98 and 99".

Then perhaps later on, people were able to pinpoint ideal body temperature more precisely. (I'm guessing also that it may differ slightly from individual to individual.)

There's also this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit#History , which I thought was pretty interesting.

[TheConfessor]

In the UK standard body temperature is usually stated as 98.4F - we're so much cooler than you colonials!

My traditional dual-scale oral thermometer has an indication that tells me I should be 37 degrees. I guess I'll have to find one that's marked at 36.8888888888888889 degrees.

[Momma Snider]

I love that song, no matter what my temperature is. It's so peppy and feel-goody.

[grodney]

I love that song, no matter what my temperature is. It's so peppy and feel-goody.

Are you talking about Suzanne Vega "99.9 Fahrenheit Degrees"?

[Momma Snider]

No, indeed. 98.6 by Keith was my favorite song when it came out, and still ranks way up there.