How is 1990 23 years ago if it is only 24 years ago?

Question

I jus ask question some guy say the answer is 23 ok well look right...firstly i have to rite things out to get it rite cos i have ocd & adhd

1990 - 1 year old
1991 - 2 year old
1992 - 3 year old
1993 - 4 year old
1994 - 5 year old
1995 - 6 year old
1996 - 7 year old
1997 - 8 year old
1998 - 9 year old
1999 - 10 year old
2000 - 11 year old
2001 - 12 year old
2002 - 13 year old
2003 - 14 year old
2004 - 15 year old
2005 - 16 year old
2006 - 17 year old
2007 - 18 year old
2008 - 19 year old
2009 - 20 year old
2010 - 21 year old
2011 - 22 year old
2012 - 23 year old
2013 - 24 year old

ok tho here is the question, http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20131215041750AAorktz

i have this in history class but i am getting comfuesed cos the numbers are wrong

Answer 1

It's questions like this that make me want to give up on public education.



There are two kinds of numbers: ordinal numbers and cardinal numbers. Cardinal numbers are one two three four. Ordinal numbers are first second third fourth etc. Age birth to 1 year is the first year of life. On the first birthday you are one year old but you are entering your second year. Then on your second birthday you are two years old but entering your third year. So if someone is born On Dec 15, 1990 he is 23 years old, but he is in his 24th year.

Answer 2

It's because you don't count the first year as a year passed. However, you could argue that since it's late 2013 that someone born in early 1990, like January or February, was born 24 years ago because their birthday is coming up very soon anyway. But that's a whole different issue. Anyways, your first year you are 0 years old, once your first year is completed, you begin your second year but you are only a year old because only a year has passed. And when you're on your 24th year, you're 23 years old because 23 years has passed.

Answer 3

But if you were born in 1913 then would you say the difference between 2013 and 1913 is not 100? You would generally measure time by years by simply taking away the biggest number from the smallest to find the difference, which is the time in between the two dates. You are thinking of it like centuries are measured, such as it is the 21st century but it's the 2000's. It can be confusing and annoying, but I don't really know why we measure it like you are now and sometimes not.

Answer 4

1990 is your starting point. You start at 0 years old, not 1.

By 1991, 1 year would have passed.



1990 - 0 year old (this stage would be measured by months)

1991 - 1 year old

Answer 5

1990 would be 1 year old if someone was born in 1989