Greetings, ,

Thank you for participating in the "Mental Gymnastics" challenge in this month's WarehouseTWO e-Newsletter.  Here are the results...
The Challenge
Answer either or both of these questions correctly:

#1:  At what temperature are the readings on the Fahrenheit scale and on the Centigrade (Celsius) scale exactly equal?

#2:  What late-December holiday celebration features an aluminum pole, "airing of grievances" and "feats of strength"?

The Correct Answers      

#1  -40 degrees (Fahrenheit or Centigrade/Celsius)

Here are two ways to determine this answer:

Method A:  Solve mathematically
Recall from elementary school that water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius), and that water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius).  These two events provides two data points on the straight line that represents the relation between Fahrenheit and Celsius:
                  X1=0,   Y1=32
                  X2=100, Y2=212
From these two points, the slope of the line can be determined:
               slope = 212-100 = 9/5
                        32-0
The freezing point indicates that the line crosses the Y axis at a Y value of 32.  Ergo, the equation for the relationship between Fahrenheit (F) and Celsius (C) is:
                   F = 9*C/5 + 32
Now solve for the condition, F = C (both = X):
                   X = 9*X/5 + 32
                 -32 = 9*X/5 - X
                 -32 = 4*X/5
                -160 = 4*X
                 -40 = X

Method B:  Google "what temperature is the same in both fahrenheit and celsius"

We're sure that none of this month's winners used "Method B".  ;-) 


#2  Festivus
Per the write up at Wikipedia:  "Festivus is a secular holiday celebrated on December 23 as an alternative to Christmas and as way to commemorate the season without participating in its pressures and commercialism.  Festivus became part of worldwide popular culture after being featured on an episode of the American TV show Seinfeld in 1997."  Read the complete Wikipedia article here.  The episode is called "The Strike", and is scheduled to appear on U. S. cable channel TBS on December 21 at 7:30PM EST/PST.  Click here for more information.
The Winners
The winners of this month's "Mental Gymnastics" challenge are:
  • Jana Eichhorn, HFI Fluid Power Products (Racine, WI USA) (first respondent to answer both questions correctly)
  • Brian Preusser, Hartfiel Automation (Eden Prairie, MN USA) (picked at random from all other correct respondents)  
  • Matt Cantara, iAutomation (North Attleboro, MA USA) (picked at random from all other correct respondents)
  • Alex Kowal, ACI Controls (West Seneca, NY USA) (picked at random from all other correct respondents)
  • Beth Murray, Flow Products Inc. (Chicago, IL USA) (picked at random from all other correct respondents)
Thank you again for participating in this month's "Mental Gymnastics" challenge.  Look for another challenge in next month's WarehouseTWO eNewsletter!

Don't forget:  if you have a good "WarehouseTWO success story", we would love to hear about it.

Sincerely,
Mark Tomalonis
WarehouseTWO, LLC