It was a Wednesday on July 2, 1985. What day of the week was July 2, 1984?

Introduction / Context:
Weekdays one year apart shift by +1 day for a common year and +2 days if the year in between is a leap year (because it has an extra day). To move backward, subtract the corresponding shift.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Given: July 2, 1985 = Wednesday.
• 1984 is a leap year (divisible by 4 and by 400 rule not needed since 1984 not a century).
• From July 2, 1984 to July 2, 1985 spans 366 days ⇒ +2 weekday shift forward.

Concept / Approach:
If 1984→1985 shifts weekdays forward by +2, then going from 1985 back to 1984 subtracts 2 weekdays: Wednesday − 2 = Monday.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Counting forward: Monday (1984) + 366 days = Monday + 2 = Wednesday (1985), consistent.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tuesday or Wednesday would reflect +1 or +0 shift, not +2. Thursday is +3, which does not apply here.

Common Pitfalls:
Forgetting that the extra Feb 29 in 1984 adds one extra weekday step over the year interval.

Final Answer:
Monday.