The last puzzler of the season was about the couple trying to get a free meal at a restaurant, claiming it was their wedding anniversary.
For bonus points: If the same thing happened 100 years earlier, in 1914 instead of 2014, would the result be the same?
I looked at the http://www.cartalk.com/content/puzzlers#lastweekspuzzler and did not see that puzzle. What were the details of the puzzle?
From the archives:
http://www.cartalk.com/content/free-anniversary-dinner-0?question
It’s the 7.3.2014 show’s puzzler. Click above on “our show”, then “puzzler”, then “archives” (for 2014).
Note: You might be confused b/c there’s puzzlers posted after that date on the website, but those were not recently broadcast. They’re for listeners who want to do a puzzler once week even if the “Puzzler” doesn’t appear on the show during the summer.
Answer: It wouldn’t work in 1914 because 1900 wasn’t a leap year.
That’s true because a centennial year must be divisible by 400.
For double bonus points: If the same thing happened in 1914 in St. Petersburg, Russia, would the result be the same?
Thu 7/23/1885; Fri 7/23/1886 (+28 years) = Thu 7/23/1914; Wed 7/23/2014
You are right @insightful and @missileman , and as verified by @ArlHtsMelissa . For the repeat to work, all years evenly divided by four in the time interval of interest must be a leap year. But the way the calendar works to keep the seasons matching to the months, years ending in “00” – centennial years – are only a leap year if they are evenly divisible by 400. 2000 is. 1900 isn’t.
Good job everybody!
" years ending in “00” are only a leap year if they are evenly divisible by 400."
True, it may be a little out of sync by then, but I’m not doing much worrying about it … lol …
For triple bonus points: Why won’t the calendar ever get out of sync again?
Edit: Trick question; @Mechaniker gives a clue.