CAT Calendar Questions


Question:
John was born on Feb 29th of 2012 which happened to be a Wednesday. If he lives to be 101 years old, how many birthdays would he celebrate on a Wednesday?
A.  3
B.  4
C.  5
D.  1 

Correct Answer : (B)

Explanatory Answer:
Let us do this iteratively. Feb 29th 2012 = Wednesday => Feb 28th 2012 = Tuesday
Feb 28th 2013 = Thursday (because 2012 is a leap year, there will be 2 odd days)
Feb 28th 2014 = Friday,  Feb 28th 2015 = Saturday, Feb 28th 2016 = Sunday, Feb 29th 2016 = Monday
Or, Feb 29th to Feb 29th after 4 years, we have 5 odd days
So, every subsequent birthday, would come after 5 odd days.
2016 birthday – 5 odd days
2020 birthday – 10 odd days = 3 odd days
2024 birthday – 8 odd days = 1 odd day
2028 – 6 odd days
2032 – 11 odd days = 4 odd days
2036 – 9 odd days = 2 odd days
2040 – 7 odd days = 0 odd days. So, after 28 years he would have a birthday on Wednesday
The next birthday on Wednesday would be on 2068 (further 28 years later), the one after that would be on 2096. His 84th birthday would again be a leap year.
Now, there is a twist again, as 2100 is not a leap year. So, he does not have a birthday in 2100. His next birthday in 2104 would be after 9 odd days since 2096, or 2 odd days since 2096, or on a Thursday.
From now on the same pattern continues. 2108 would be 2 + 5 odd days later = 7 odd days later. Or, 2108 Feb 29th would be a Wednesday.
So, there are 4 occurrences of birthday falling on Wednesday – 2040, 2068 and 2096, 2108.

Level of Difficulty - 2

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Jul 21, 2013

CAT Calendar Questions


Question:
John was born on Feb 29th of 2012 which happened to be a Wednesday. If he lives to be 101 years old, how many birthdays would he celebrate on a Wednesday?
A.  3
B.  4
C.  5
D.  1 

Correct Answer : (B)

Explanatory Answer:
Let us do this iteratively. Feb 29th 2012 = Wednesday => Feb 28th 2012 = Tuesday
Feb 28th 2013 = Thursday (because 2012 is a leap year, there will be 2 odd days)
Feb 28th 2014 = Friday,  Feb 28th 2015 = Saturday, Feb 28th 2016 = Sunday, Feb 29th 2016 = Monday
Or, Feb 29th to Feb 29th after 4 years, we have 5 odd days
So, every subsequent birthday, would come after 5 odd days.
2016 birthday – 5 odd days
2020 birthday – 10 odd days = 3 odd days
2024 birthday – 8 odd days = 1 odd day
2028 – 6 odd days
2032 – 11 odd days = 4 odd days
2036 – 9 odd days = 2 odd days
2040 – 7 odd days = 0 odd days. So, after 28 years he would have a birthday on Wednesday
The next birthday on Wednesday would be on 2068 (further 28 years later), the one after that would be on 2096. His 84th birthday would again be a leap year.
Now, there is a twist again, as 2100 is not a leap year. So, he does not have a birthday in 2100. His next birthday in 2104 would be after 9 odd days since 2096, or 2 odd days since 2096, or on a Thursday.
From now on the same pattern continues. 2108 would be 2 + 5 odd days later = 7 odd days later. Or, 2108 Feb 29th would be a Wednesday.
So, there are 4 occurrences of birthday falling on Wednesday – 2040, 2068 and 2096, 2108.

Level of Difficulty - 2

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