Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: 1 Jan
Explanation:
Introduction:
This is a classic age and calendar riddle that tests logical reasoning rather than direct arithmetic. The key is to interpret how someone can say that the day before yesterday they were 25, yet next year they will be 28, and reconcile this with the normal yearly increase in age on birthdays.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Let us reason about birthday timing. If two days ago the person was 25, then either yesterday or today must have been their 26th birthday. For the person to say that next year they will be 28, they must currently be 26 and will turn 27 later this year and 28 in the following year. The only way both conditions can fit within two consecutive calendar years is if the birthday is at the very end of the year and the statement is made at the very beginning of the next year.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Assume the person's birthday is 31 December of some year N.Consider the statement being made on 1 January of year N + 1.Two days before 1 January (N + 1) is 30 December of year N.On 30 December N, the person has not yet had their birthday that year, so their age is 25.On 31 December N (yesterday relative to 1 January N + 1), they celebrate their 26th birthday.On 1 January N + 1 (today), they are 26 years old.Later in the same year N + 1, on 31 December N + 1, they will turn 27.In the next year, N + 2, on 31 December N + 2, they will turn 28.Therefore, from the perspective of 1 January N + 1, it is correct to say: "The day before yesterday I was 25" and "next year I will turn 28."
Verification / Alternative check:
No other date fits the conditions neatly. If the statement were made on any other day, the span between "day before yesterday" and "next year" would not correctly allow for two birthdays (26 and 27) before the person turns 28. The boundary between calendar years is essential here, and 1 January works perfectly with a 31 December birthday.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
31 Dec, 30 Dec, 28 Feb or 29 Feb do not allow the age transition described when you track birthdays year by year. Only on 1 Jan, with a birthday on 31 Dec, can the age be 25 two days ago, 26 now, 27 later this year and 28 next year, exactly as stated.
Common Pitfalls:
People often try to interpret the ages within a single calendar year or forget that "next year" means the calendar year after the current one, during which another birthday can occur. The trick is to use the year end and year beginning as anchor points. Visualising a small timeline with dates and ages can help avoid confusion.
Final Answer:
The statement is made on 1 Jan, assuming the person's birthday is on 31 December.
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