Which temperature to subtract from which when calculating a difference? [closed]








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Is $\Delta T$ solved by using: $T(\mathrm{final})-T(\mathrm{initial})$? Or $T(\mathrm{initial})-T(\mathrm{final})$?


I am getting some conflicting info from class and online.




The delta symbol ($\Delta$) means change, so $\Delta T$ means the change in temperature. To find the change in temperature the correct formula is $T(\mathrm{final})−T(\mathrm{initial})$.


For example, if the temperature of a sample changes from $70~\mathrm{^\circ C}$ to $80~\mathrm{^\circ C}$ then $\Delta T = 80~\mathrm{^\circ C} - 70~\mathrm{^\circ C} = 10~\mathrm{^\circ C}$. The positive number indicates the change was an increase in temperature.


An example of a decrease in temperature would be if a sample changes from $80~\mathrm{^\circ C}$ (our initial temperature) to $60~\mathrm{^\circ C}$ (our final temperature) then $\Delta T = 60~\mathrm{^\circ C} - 80~\mathrm{^\circ C} = -20~\mathrm{^\circ C}$. The negative number indicates the change was a decrease in temperature.


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