Happy 02/02/2020! Yes, today is the first day since 21/02/2012 that the date has been a palindrome. If you don't know what a palindrome is, it is a number that is read the same forwards and backwards. Palindromic dates at first glance appear quite insignificant and normal, but they are actually quite rare at times. For example, look at last year. I don't think I remember what day it was on the 91st of February. Only years where the first two digits reversed are a valid month and the last two reversed are a valid date from that month can have a palindromic number.
This is all well and good, but aren't they still quite common?
Well, yes. And no. Palindromic dates generally appear in groups, but there are sometimes massive gaps between them. For example, think back to the early 2000s, when the last palindromic dates were. We had 10/02/2001, 20/02/2002, 01/02/2010, 11/02/2011 and 21/02/2012. These are the last five palindromic dates, but what happens when we try to go further back in time? The 1900s had no palindromes, for there definitely isn't a 91st month of the year. Same for the 1800s, and the 1700s, and so on. Go back to the 1200s, and you're still not quite there. Finally you reach the 12th century, but we're not doing yet. 1199 is impossible, and you should be able to find out why, as is 1198 and 1197. The last palindromic date before 2001 was 29/11/1192. Sunday the 29th of November, 1192.
So while they are at times common, as they will remain throughout the next few years, at times they are one of the rarest occurrences we will ever be lucky enough to witness. All you need to do is change your perspective.
This is all well and good, but aren't they still quite common?
Well, yes. And no. Palindromic dates generally appear in groups, but there are sometimes massive gaps between them. For example, think back to the early 2000s, when the last palindromic dates were. We had 10/02/2001, 20/02/2002, 01/02/2010, 11/02/2011 and 21/02/2012. These are the last five palindromic dates, but what happens when we try to go further back in time? The 1900s had no palindromes, for there definitely isn't a 91st month of the year. Same for the 1800s, and the 1700s, and so on. Go back to the 1200s, and you're still not quite there. Finally you reach the 12th century, but we're not doing yet. 1199 is impossible, and you should be able to find out why, as is 1198 and 1197. The last palindromic date before 2001 was 29/11/1192. Sunday the 29th of November, 1192.
So while they are at times common, as they will remain throughout the next few years, at times they are one of the rarest occurrences we will ever be lucky enough to witness. All you need to do is change your perspective.
you copied this from mr hanlon
ReplyDeleteShush
Deleteshush urself
Delete