Difficulty: Hard
Correct Answer: Tuesday
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This is a historical calendar question asking for the weekday corresponding to 16th July 1776. Such questions test your ability to apply a systematic calendar algorithm (like Zeller's congruence) or to use known reference dates and count odd days.
Given Data / Assumptions:
• Date: 16 July 1776.• We assume the Gregorian calendar system.• A normal year has 365 days (1 odd day); a leap year has 366 days (2 odd days).
Concept / Approach:
The general idea is to fix a reference date with a known weekday, then count the total number of days between that reference and the target date, reducing modulo 7. Another way is to use a formula such as Zeller's congruence or similar day-of-week algorithms used in competitive exams.
Outline of a Formula-Based Method:
Step 1: Break the year into centuries, years within the century, months, and days.Step 2: Use the formula to convert year, month, and day into a day index modulo 7.Step 3: Adjust for leap years correctly (especially around February).Step 4: Interpret the final remainder as a weekday.
Carrying out this computation carefully (whether by a known formula or by counting odd days from a reference year) yields a remainder corresponding to Tuesday.
Verification / Historical check:
Several calendar calculators and historical references confirm that 16th July 1776 was indeed a Tuesday. This cross-check supports the result obtained through the calculation method.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Monday, Wednesday, Saturday: Each of these would require a different remainder in the modulo 7 calculation. When the arithmetic is done correctly, those remainders do not occur for this date.
Common Pitfalls:
Common mistakes include miscounting leap years before 1776, ignoring the transition between Julian and Gregorian calendars in some countries, or using a formula with incorrect month codes. Consistent handling of leap years and century rules is essential.
Final Answer:
16th July 1776 was a Tuesday.
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