If Yesterday Was Tomorrow

Samuel said, “If yesterday was tomorrow, today would be Friday.”

What day did Samuel say this?

Answer

Sunday or Wednesday depends on how you interpret this sentence, “If yesterday was tomorrow.”

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Explanation

Let:

YES = Real Yesterday
YES’ = Imaginary Yesterday

TOD = Real Today
TOD’ = Imaginary Today

TOM = Real Tomorrow
TOM’ = Imaginary Tomorrow

Assumption I:

1. Yesterday in the sentence is the Real Yesterday (YES).
2. Tomorrow in the sentence is the Imaginary Tomorrow (TOM’).
3. Today in the sentence is the Imaginary Today (TOD’).

Thus:

YES = TOM’ (i)

TOD’ = Friday (ii)

TOM’ = TOD’ + 1 (iii)

TOD = YES + 1 (iv)

Using equation (i) and (iii):
YES = TOM’
YES = (TOD’ + 1)
YES = TOD’ + 1 (v)

Using equation (iv) and (v):
TOD = YES + 1
TOD = (TOD’ + 1) + 1
TOD = TOD’ + 2 (vi)

Using equation (ii) and (vi):
TOD = TOD’ + 2
TOD = Friday + 2
TOD = Sunday

Assumption II:

1. Yesterday in the sentence is the Imaginary Yesterday (YES’).
2. Tomorrow in the sentence is the Real Tomorrow (TOM).
3. Today in the sentence is the Imaginary Today (TOD’).

Thus:

YES’ = TOM
ATOM = YES’ (i)

TOD’ = Friday (ii)

YES’ = TOD’ – 1 (iii)

TOD = TOM – 1 (iv)

Using equation (i) and (iii):
TOM = YES’
TOM = (TOD’ – 1)
TOM = TOD’ – 1 (v)

Using equation (iv) and (v):
TOD = TOM – 1
TOD = (TOD’ – 1) – 1
TOD = TOD’ – 2 (vi)

Using equation (ii) and (vi):
TOD = TOD’ – 2
TOD = Friday – 2
TOD = Wednesday

Q.E.D.

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