Century-year endings — Which weekday can be the last day (31 December) of a century year?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Friday

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Century years (…1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, …) have distinctive leap-year behavior: only years divisible by 400 are leap years. This shapes which weekdays can occur on year-end dates.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • We consider Gregorian calendar rules.
  • “Last day of a century” means 31 December in a year ending with 00.


Concept / Approach:
Across centuries, weekday patterns cycle. For example: 1700-12-31, 1800-12-31, 1900-12-31, 2000-12-31 are known benchmarks generating allowable weekdays. Non-400 centuries shift differently than 400-multiples.


Step-by-Step Solution:

1) Check known samples under Gregorian rules:— 1700-12-31: Friday.— 1800-12-31: Wednesday.— 1900-12-31: Monday.— 2000-12-31: Sunday (400-multiple leap century).2) Hence possible last-day weekdays include Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.


Verification / Alternative check:
Day-counting modulo 7 over 100-year spans shows non-400 centuries shift by +5 weekdays; 400-multiples net a +6 shift within that block, yielding the observed set.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday do not occur as the last day of century years under Gregorian patterns illustrated above.


Common Pitfalls:

  • Assuming every 100th year is a leap year (not true unless divisible by 400).


Final Answer:
Friday

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