Density altitude may be determined by correcting:

Density altitude is a crucial concept in aviation, representing the altitude at which the air density is equivalent to that of the standard atmosphere. It is influenced not just by pressure but also by temperature. To determine density altitude, one uses pressure altitude as a base reference because this value already accounts for variations in ambient atmospheric pressure.

When you correct pressure altitude for nonstandard temperature, you effectively adjust for how temperature variations from standard levels (15°C at sea level) affect air density. Warmer air is less dense than cooler air, which means that for the same pressure altitude, the density altitude will be higher in warmer conditions. By applying this correction, you can find the true density altitude that affects aircraft performance.

This method is preferable because it directly links the concepts of pressure altitude and temperature's effect on density, providing an accurate assessment for flight planning and performance calculations.