8/8/2014 Mrunal Reasoning: Calendar related MCQs, How to solve quickly?

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[Reasoning] Calendar Questions: Finding day or date, concepts, shortcuts
explained
1. Introduction
2. Concept:7Daycycle
1. SSCCGL2000Questionon7Daycycle
3. Concept:DayGainDayloss
1. WhatisLeapyear?
2. SSCInvestigator2010(Anniversary)
3. SSCCGL2011(Anniversary)
4. CAT2001Questiononcalendar
5. Question1988to1989
6. SpeedTechniquetip#1
7. SpeedTechniquetip#2
4. Concept:DateWithoutreferenceDay
1. Table#1:Theodddays
2. Tablet#2:NumberDay
3. Whatdayofweekwason15thugust,1947?
4. Speedincreasetip#1:
5. Findthedayon10thMay,1857?
6. SpeedTechnique#3
5. Mockquestions
Introduction
ArticlepreparedwithhelpofMr.DeepakSingh.
TherearetwomaintypesofquestionsfromCalendar
whenyouregivenareferenceday
whenyouregivenno
referenceDay
Whatdayofweekwasiton5thNovember,1989
ifitwasMondayon4thApril,1988?
a. Monday
b. Tuesday
c. Saturday
d. Sunday
Whatwasthedayon15
th
august1947?
a. Sunday
b. Monday
c. Tuesday
d. Friday
Herequestiontellsusthat4
th
April88was
Monday,sowehaveareferenceday.
Herequestiondoesntgive
usanyreferenceday.
canbesolvedwithjusttwoconcepts
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1. 7daycycle
2. daygainDaylossconcept
needtojustmugup2table,
andfewsteps.
Althoughcalendarquestionisnotaskedeveryyearineveryexam.ButIfand
whencalendarquestionisasked,justfollowthegivenprocedureandyoullget
theaccurateanswer=onemarkisguaranteed=inthatsense,cost:benefitis
great.
Concept: 7 Day cycle
Nameofthedaywillrepeatafterseven
days.
1
st
August2013=Thursday.Therefore1
st
August+7=8
th
Augustalsohastobe
Thursday.
Thenwhatdaywillbe10
th
August2013?
1
st
August=Thursday=>1+7=8Augustis
alsoThursday
And8August+2=10Augustwillbe
Thursday+2days=>Saturday.
letstryasimplequestionfromSSC
SSC-CGL 2000 Question on 7-Day cycle
If9
th
ofthemonthfallsonthedayprecedingSunday,thenonwhatdaywill1
st
ofthemonthfall?
a. Friday
b. Saturday
c. Sunday
d. Monday
Asperthequestion9
th
oftheMonth=Saturday.(dayprecedingSunday)
Daynamerepeatsafter7days.
Therefore9minus7=2
nd
ofthegivenmonthisalsoSaturday.
Then1
st
ofthegivenmonth=SaturdayMinusoneday=Friday,AnsA
Concept: Day Gain Day loss
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+1
year
Whenweproceedforwardbyoneyear,then1dayisgainedandvice
versa.Example,9
th
August2013isFriday,therefore9
th
August2014has
tobeFriday+1=Saturday.Reverseisalsotrue.Whenwemovebackward
byoneyear,then1dayislost.
9
th
August2014isSaturday,therefore9
th
August2013hastobe
Saturdayminus1=Friday.
+2
Leap
Year
Whenweproceedforwardbyoneleapyear,then2daysaregainedand
viceversa.ExampleIfitisWednesdayon10thaugust2011thenit
wouldbeFriday(Wednesday+2)on10thaugust2012[because2012is
aleapyear].Thereverseisalsocorrect:If22ndApril,1988=Friday,
then22ndApril,1987=Wednesday.(2days)
ExceptiontoLeapYeardaygaindaylossthedatemusthavecrossed28th
Februaryifthecomingyearisaleapyearforadding2daysotherwiseadd1
day.
Fore.g.
If26thJanuary2011isWednesdaythen26thJanuary2012wouldbe
Thursday(evenif2012isleapyearwehaveadded+1day,because28th
ofFebruaryisnotcrossed).
If23rdMarch2011isWednesdaythen23rdmarch2012wouldbe
Friday(+2days.As28thFebruaryofleapyeariscrossed).
What is Leap year?
Anormalyearhas365days.Aleapyearhas366days(theextradayisthe29th
ofFebruary)
Ayearwhichisdivisibleby4isaleapyearexcept,ifitisdivisibleby100then
wehavetocheckitbydividingby400.Fore.g.
1. 1988,2008,2012,2016etc.allareleapyearsasdividedby4.
2. 2000,2400,1600etc.allareleapasdividedby400(100and4too).
3. 1700,1800,2100,2200etc.arenotleapyearsastheyarenotdivisibleby
400(eveniftheyaredivisibleby4).
Letstryasum
SSC Investigator 2010 (Anniversary)
On5
th
December1993,NirmalaandRajucelebratedtheiranniversaryon
Sunday.Whatwillbethedayontheiranniversaryin1997?
a. Wednesday
b. Thursday
c. Friday
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d. Tuesday
Normalyearjump+1gainLeapyearjump+2gain.
years daygain
1994 1
1995 1
1996(leapyear) 2
1997 1
totaldays 5
Sundayplusfivedays
1. Monday
2. Tue
3. Wed
4. Thursday
5. Friday
Answer(C)Friday
letstryonemorewithabitdifference:
SSC CGL 2011 (Anniversary)
Mrs.SusheelacelebratedherweddinganniversaryonTuesday30
th
September
1997.Whatwillshecelebratehernextweddinganniversaryonsameday
(Tuesday)?
1. 30Sept2003
2. 30Sept2004
3. 30Sept2002
4. 30October2003
After7days=>daynamewillrepeat
30
th
September
daygain
1998 1
99 1
2000(leap) 2
2001 1
2002 1
2003 1
totaldays 7
Meaningwhateverwasthedayon30
th
sep.1997itllrepeaton2003
Therefore,after1997,nexttimeMrs.Susheelasanniversarywillbeonsame
8/8/2014 Mrunal Reasoning: Calendar related MCQs, How to solve quickly?
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Tuesdayon30
th
September2003AnsA.
Now,HowaboutaCATlevelquestion:
CAT-2001 Question on calendar
Dec9,2001isSundaythenwhatwasthedayonDec9,1971?
A. Thursday
B. Wednesday
C. Saturday
D. Sunday
Samedaygain,Dayloss
1971to2001=howmanyjumps?
20011971=Total30yearsjump
Outofthose30years,howmanyleapyears?
72,76,.,00(multiplesofof4and2000isalsoleapyearbecauseItismultiple
of400)
butnoneedtomanuallycountleapyears.
ifyouobserve
18x4=(19)72
25x4=(20)00
sofrom18to25=total8leapyears.(plznote:2518=7years,butweveto
includebothyearsaswelltherefore..insuchcounting,itllbe2518+1=8leap
years)
backtothestart:30yearsjumpandoutofthem8wereleapyears.
Meaning22normalyears+8leapyears=total30years
22normalyears(+1daygain) 22x1=22days
8leapyears(+2daysgain) 8x2=16days
totalgain 22+16=38days
38/7=(75)+3remainder
MeaningwhateverwasthedayonDec9,1971,itllmoveto+3daysondec9
2001
Reverseisalsotrue:WhateverwasthedayonDec2001,itllbethreedaysless
onDec91971:
8/8/2014 Mrunal Reasoning: Calendar related MCQs, How to solve quickly?
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SinceDec2001wasSundaytherefore,
SundayMinus3days=(justcountinyourhead):SaturdayFridayThursday.
FinalanswerisA:Thursday
Question 1988 to 1989
Whatdayofweekwasiton5thNovember,1989ifitwasMondayon4thApril,
1988?
1. Monday
2. Tuesday
3. Saturday
4. Sunday
RecallourDaygainDaylossprinciple
ForNonLeapyear,Whenweproceedforwardbyoneyear,then1dayisgained
andviceversa.
If4thApril,1988=Monday,then4thApril,1989=Tuesday(Because1989isa
nonleapyear)
Remainingdaysuntil5
th
Nov.89
Month Days
April(4to30) 26
May 31
June 30
July 31
Aug 31
Sep 30
Oct 31
Nov 5
total 215
=Tuesday+215
Divide215with7tofindtheremainder
215=(30*7)+5Hencefiveistheremainder
Backtotheproblem
=Tuesday+[5days]
Whatisthe5
th
dayafterTuesday?Countonyourfingertip:Wed,Thurs.,Fri,
Sat.,Sunday
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=Sunday(FinalanswerD)
Speed Technique tip#1
inaboveproblem,ifyoudontwanttowastetimeinaddingthedayslike
26+31+30.thenusefollowingapproach
30days=(7*4)+2=>2remainder
31days=(7*4)+3=>3remainder.
Month Days Remainderwith7
April(4to30) 26 5(because26=7*3+5)
May 31 3
June 30 2
July 31 3
Aug 31 3
Sep 30 2
Oct 31 3
Nov 5 5
total dontneed 26
Dividethisby7andfindremainder:26=(7*3)+5soremainderis5
=Tuesday+5
=Tuesday+5days
=Sunday
Speed Technique tip#2
inspeedtech#1,ifyoudontwanttowastetimeinaddingtheremaindersof
seven:5+3+2.thendofollowing
pickupremaindersthataddupto7andcancelthem.
forexample5+2=7.SoIllcanceleachsuchpairinthetable.Observe
Month Days
Remainderwith7aftercancellingnumbersthataddupto
7(e.g.5+2)
April(4to
30)
26 5
May 31 3
June 30 2
July 31 3
Aug 31 3
Sep 30 2
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Oct 31 3
Nov 5 5
total
dont
need
12
Aftercancellingthetwopairsof(5+2),Imleftwithfour3s=12(because4x
3=12)
=Tuesday+12
nowdivide12with7findremainder:12=7*1+5
=Tuesday+5days
=Sunday
Concept: Date Without reference Day

Example:Whatwasthedayon15
th
August1947?
Tosolvethistypeofquestions,youvetofirstmugupthesetwotables:
Table#1: The odd days
100 5
200 3
300 1
400,800,1200,1600etcmultiplesof400 0
^okbutwhatistheuseofabovetable?Ittellsusthenumberofodddaysin
thatgivenyear.Idontwanttoboreyouwiththetheorysojustmugupthose
values.
Tablet #2: Number-Day
0,7 Sunday
1 Monday
2 Tuesday
3 Wednesday
4 Thursday
5 Friday
6 Saturday
Justrememberthat1to6isMondaytoSaturdayand0or7=Sunday.
^okbutwhatistheuseofabovetable?justhangonforafewmoreparagraphs
andyoullknow!Nowletstryasum
8/8/2014 Mrunal Reasoning: Calendar related MCQs, How to solve quickly?
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What day of week was on 15th ugust,1947?
Step1:
Subtractthegivenyearby1.
19471=1946
Step2:
Breakintorelevantyearsasintable#1.
100 5
200 3
300 1
400,800,1200,1600etc(multiplesof400) 0
Therefore,
1946=1600+300+(46)
Step3:
Nowwritecorrespondingvaluesfromthetable:1600=0and300=1
1946=>0+1+(46)
Step4:
Nowforthenumberinbracket(46),divideitby4andaddquotientinsame
line.
inthiscase46=(11x4)+2therefore,11isquotientand2isremainder.Were
concernedwithnumberandquotienthere
1946=0+1+(46+11)
Step5:
Nowaddallthesenumbersanddivideby7
0+1+(46+11)
=58
Andwhenyoudivide58by7,youget58=(7*8)+2.Thereforeremainderis2.
wegotthenumber2=wellcallthisour31DecNumber
Observesecondtable
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0,7 Sunday
1 Monday
2 Tuesday
3 Wednesday
4 Thursday
5 Friday
6 Saturday
Fromthistablewecanseethat2=>Tuesday
Itmeans31
st
December1946wasTuesday.Nowweapplyour7daycycle
concepttofindoutthedayon15
th
August1947usingthefollowingformula
Givenday=(our31DecNumber2)+*howmanydaystillwereach15
th
August?*
Step6
from1
st
Jan1947tillwereach15
th
August1947
daysingivenmonth
Jan 31
feb(notleapyear) 28
march 31
april 30
may 31
june 30
july 31
august(upto15
th
Aug)
15
total 227days
backtotheboldpart
(Our31DecNumber)+*howmanydaystillwereach15
th
August?*
=2+227
=229
Step7
Dividethisnumber(229)by7andwhateverremainderyouget=thatisourday
fromtable#2
229/7=(32*7)+5
so5istheremainderandaspertable#2
0,7 Sunday
1 Monday
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2 Tuesday
3 Wednesday
4 Thursday
5 Friday
6 Saturday
5=>Friday.
Thatmeans15
th
August1947wasFriday.
Speed increase tip#1:
inabove15
th
Augustexample,Backtothestep6
31DecNumber+*howmanydaystillwereach15
th
August?*
afterthat,wedidfollowing:
from1
st
Jan1947tillwereach15
th
August1947
daysingivenmonth
Jan 31
feb(notleapyear) 28
march 31
april 30
may 31
june 30
july 31
august(upto15
th
Aug)
15
total 227days
^asyouseewehadtosumof31+28+31.=lotoftimetakenindoingthe
addition(+).
So,itisbettertojustaddremaindersforeachmonthwith7
30=(7*4)+2=>2remainder
31=(7*4)+3=>3remainder.
Nowobserveagain
from1
st
Jan1947tillwereach15
th
August
1947
daysingiven
month
remainderwith
7
Jan 31 3
feb(notleapyear) 28 0
march 31 3
april 30 2
may 31 3
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june 30 2
july 31 3
august(upto15
th
Aug) 15
1(because
14+1)
total 227days 17
nowinsteadof227wecansimplywrite17
Our31DecNumber+*howmanydaystillwereach15
th
August?*
=2+17
=19
Therefore19/7=itsremainderwilltellusthefinalday
19=(7*2)+5=thereforeremainderis5andaspertable#2,5meansFriday.
Find the day on 10th May, 1857?
Subtract1fromthegivenyear
18571=1856
Nowbreakup1856asperourtable#1
100 5
200 3
300 1
400,800,1200,1600etc(multiplesof400) 0
1856
=1600+200+(56)
writecorrespondingvaluesfromtable#1
=0+3+(56)
Dividethebracketnumberby4andwritequotientalongwithnumber
56=14*4+0thereforequotientis14
1856
=0+3+(56+14)
addthesenumbersanddivideby7findremainder
=73/7
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=remainder3
Speed Technique #3
afterdoingthedivisionwith4tofindquotientstep,yougotfollowing
=0+3+(56+14)
Wheneveryouseethemultipleof7,justscratchthatnumber(becauseitllgive
remainderzeroanyways)
forexample
=0+3+(56+14)
Hereboth56and14aremultiplesof7soevenifyoudividethemby7,youre
goingtogetzeroasremainder.
=0+3+0+0=3is31DecNumber
aspertable#2:3meansWednesday.Meaning31
st
December1856was
Wednesday
nowour31DecNumber+howmanydaystill10thMay,1857?
from1
st
Jan1857tillwereach31
th
May1857
daysingiven
month
remainderwith7
Jan 31 3
feb(notleapyearin1857) 28 0
march 31 3
april 30 2
may 10
3,Because10=(7x
1)+3
total *notneeded* 11
backtoourproblem
our31DecNumber+howmanydaystill10thMay,1857?
=3+11
=14
when14isdividedby7wegetzeroasremainder.
aspertable#2
0,7 Sunday
1 Monday
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2 Tuesday
3 Wednesday
4 Thursday
5 Friday
6 Saturday
ZeromeansSunday.sofinalanswer10
th
May1857wasSunday.
Extra facts:
1. The1stdayofacenturymustbeTuesday,Thursday,orSaturday.
2. ThelastdayofacenturycannotbeTuesday,Thursday,orSaturday.
Mock questions
1. In2013,GandhisbirthanniversaryisonWednesday.Inwhichnearest
futureyear,willhisbirthanniversarybeonMonday?
2. If29
th
April2013isMondaythenwhatisthedayon30
th
November2013?
3. IfJune11,2013isMonday,whatwasthedayonJuly11,2000
4. Whatwasthedayon9/11attacksin2001
5. Whatwasthedayon26/11attacksin2008
Answers
1. 2017
2. 30/nov/13=Saturday
3. 11/jul/00=Monday
4. 11/09/01=Tuesday
5. 26/11/08=Wednesday
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dayordateconceptsshortcutsexplained.html
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