Question

Aarav is measuring his temperature as he is feeling unwell. By looking at the thermometer can you figure out which one of the following statements is correct?

• A. He has not got a fever as his temperature is 37.8°C.
• B. He has got a fever as his temperature is 38.2°C.
• C. He has not got a fever as his temperature is 38.2°C.
• D. He has got a fever as his temperature is 37.8°C.

Answer 1

The correct option is D He has got a fever as his temperature is 37.8°C.

To check whether a person has got a fever, we must know that the normal human body temperature is 37°C.
Here, the level of mercury is somewhere between 37°C and 38°C mark on the scale of the thermometer. Also, the portion between 37°C and 38°C is divided into 10 equal divisions.
Thus, each division equals 1/10 = 0.1 °C.
The level of mercury lies at the eighth division from the 37°C mark.
Therefore, we can say that the thermometer is showing a reading of (37 + 8 x 0.1)°C = (37 + 0.8)°C = 37.8°C.
It is clear now that Aarav has got a fever as his temperature exceeds 37°C.