Sandy Wood
Brain Game: Turning Eight
by Sandy Wood - July 16, 2008 - 6:30 AM

ANSWER: The youngster was correct, and here’s how: He was born on December 31, 2001. The date of our conversation was January 1, 2008. He said ”two days ago, I was only five.” And, sure enough, on December 30, 2007, he was still five years old. He turned six on December 31, 2007. He’ll turn seven on December 31, 2008, and since our conversation was in early 2008, he’ll turn eight “next year” in 2009 as he claimed.

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Comments (12)

  1. Wow! That’s awesome!

    posted by gokarm on 7-16-2008 at 8:31 am

  2. I saw this same type of question on a Nintendo DS game, Professor Layton and the Curious Village. It’s actually a pretty fun game. It’s all brain teasers. I recommend it if you like puzzles.

    posted by David on 7-16-2008 at 9:00 am

  3. My best friend’s birthday in 12/31 and I forwarded this along to her…I think she’ll love it!

    posted by Christina on 7-16-2008 at 9:12 am

  4. his b-day is december 31st. i saw this one on curious village for the ds too. great game!

    posted by grant on 7-16-2008 at 9:13 am

  5. What am I missing here? This doesn’t make sense to me.

    Born on 12/31/02: His first birthday is 12/31/03, but you can argue that he’s actually a year old (i.e., lived through a full year) on 12/30/03. With the same argument, you can say he’s 5 years old on 12/30/07, the day before his fifth birthday.

    He turned six on 12/31/07: No. That was either his fifth birthday or the beginning of his sixth year. “Beginning” does not mean he’s lived for 6 years, so you can’t claim he’s six years old on 12/31/07 by either definition.

    He’ll turn 8 next year in 2009. No. 2009-2002 = 7 birthdays and it’s only the beginning of his 8th year.

    posted by loomis on 7-16-2008 at 11:51 am

  6. Loomis, he was born 12/31/2001, not 2002.

    So on 12/30/2007 he was still only five years and 364 days old. The next day he turned six, and when I spoke to him on 1/1/2008 he was six, but had been five just “two days ago.”

    On 12/31/2007 he’ll turn seven, and on 12/31/2008 (“next year”) he’ll turn eight.

    Hope that helps!

    posted by Sandy on 7-16-2008 at 12:13 pm

  7. Sandy, did you change that birth date? I could swear it originally said 2002.

    posted by loomis on 7-16-2008 at 12:30 pm

  8. I did, Loomis. That part of the answer explanation was incorrect, and I’m ashamed of myself, but I did change it.

    (hanging head)

    posted by Sandy on 7-16-2008 at 1:03 pm

  9. I went with the much less plausible answer of his dad only wants him to play with the #8 Jersey. Next year the #8 player would graduate/move up a league/whatever and then the kid could be #8… despite being only 6 years old.

    posted by Kevin on 7-16-2008 at 1:35 pm

  10. I’m 19 now and will be 21 next year

    posted by twodollars on 7-16-2008 at 2:07 pm

  11. I knew the answer from Professor Layton as well. Awesome game.

    posted by Amy on 7-17-2008 at 3:52 am

  12. Thanks, Sandy. I had my bags all packed for the Old Folks Home. I can unpack them now if I can just remember where I put them…

    posted by loomis on 7-17-2008 at 10:27 am

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