Calendar – Historic date: What was the day of the week on 17 July 1776?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Wednesday

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Historic weekday problems use the same algorithms as modern dates, considering the proleptic Gregorian calendar for consistency.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Date: 17 July 1776 (month after the US Declaration date).


Concept / Approach:
Apply a day-of-week algorithm (e.g., Doomsday or Zeller) to 1776. Compute the anchor, apply month offsets, and determine the weekday.


Step-by-Step Solution:
1) 1776 is a leap year.2) Using the algorithm yields that 17 July 1776 is Wednesday.


Verification / Alternative check:
Cross-check with a reliable perpetual calendar source; Wednesday is confirmed.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Thursday, Monday, Saturday → do not match the computed day.


Common Pitfalls:
Using the Julian instead of proleptic Gregorian system can shift the weekday.


Final Answer:
Wednesday

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