1. What is a Leap Year?

A leap year is a year containing one additional day (February 29) to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical year. The Earth takes approximately 365.2425 days to orbit the sun, so leap years help compensate for this extra time.

2. How Does the Calculation Work?

The leap year calculation follows this formula:

Where:

• \( year \) — The year to check (integer)
• \( \% \) — Modulo operation (remainder after division)
• \( \land \) — Logical AND operator
• \( \lor \) — Logical OR operator

Explanation: A year is a leap year if it is divisible by 4, but not by 100 unless it is also divisible by 400.

3. Importance of Leap Years

Details: Leap years are essential for maintaining calendar accuracy. Without leap years, our calendar would drift approximately 6 hours per year, causing seasons to shift over time. This correction ensures that seasonal events occur around the same dates each year.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter any positive year value to check if it's a leap year. The calculator will determine whether the year follows the leap year rules and display the result.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why do we have leap years?
A: Leap years compensate for the fact that Earth's orbit around the sun takes approximately 365.2425 days, not exactly 365 days.

Q2: What is the 100-year and 400-year rule?
A: Years divisible by 100 are not leap years, unless they are also divisible by 400. This refines the calendar accuracy.

Q3: Was the year 2000 a leap year?
A: Yes, 2000 was a leap year because it is divisible by 400, even though it's also divisible by 100.

Q4: Will the year 2100 be a leap year?
A: No, 2100 will not be a leap year because it is divisible by 100 but not by 400.

Q5: How often do leap years occur?
A: Leap years occur every 4 years, with exceptions for century years not divisible by 400.