6.1 Inverse Rata Die Algorithms

In this description:

[x] = the greatest integer that does not exceed x. For example, [-1.5]=-2. This is sometimes called the floor function (for example in C/C++).

INT(x) = [x]       NOTE: some computer languages have a different definition.

FIX(x) = the number x without its fraction. For example, FIX(-1.5)=-1

x\y = FIX(x/y)

STEP 1 Let RD be the Rata Day Number. Calculate

Z = RD + 306

STEP 2 Calculate the value of A which is the number of full centuries:

A = INT(Z - K1)/(36524.25))

where 0.002929687499688476 < K1 < 0.2521972656249999

STEP 3 Calculate the days within the whole centuries (in the Julian Calendar) by adding back days removed in the Gregorian Calendar. The value of B is this number of days minus a constant.

B = Z - K2+ A - INT(A/4) =

where 0 < K2 < 0.25

(It is sometimes convenient to make K1 = K2 = 0.25.)

STEP 4 Calculate the value of Y, the year in a calendar whose years start on March 1:

Y = INT(B/365.25)

STEP 5 Calculate the value of the day count in the current year using ONE of the following:

1. C = Z + A - INT(A/4) - INT(365.25*Y)
2. C = FIX(B - INT(365.25*Y)) + 1
   This form especially convenient in languages where the assignment of a real to an integer rounds up because B and therefore (B - INT(365.25*Y)) always have a fractional part of 0.75 or greater. In such languages,

   C = B - INT(365.25*Y)
   where C is an integer and B is a real.

STEP 6 Calculate the value of the month in the current year using ONE of the following:

1. M = FIX((5*C + 456)/ 153)

2. M = FIX((535*C + 48950)/ 16384)

   (Note that 16384 is 2^14 and the division can be implemented with shifts if the number has a binary representation.)

3. M = FIX((2140*C + 195800)/ 65536)

   (Note that 65536 is 2^16 and the can be implemented by taking the upper 16 bits of a 32 bit number.)

4. M = FIX(K3*C+9.333333333333469 - K3 * 194.3333333333375)

   where K3 = .0326530612244898 to 0.03271028037383177

STEP 7 Calculate the value of F, which is the number of days in the preceding months in the current year, using ONE of the following methods:

1. F is the value of a vector indexed by M. This vector has values 0, 31, 61, 92, 122, 153, 184, 214, 245, 275, 306, 337. (M has values that range from 3 through 14.) This method is usually the fastest method and often takes less computer memory to implement.

2. F = (153*M-457)\5

3. F = (979*M-2918)\32
   This allows a shift to carry out the division.

4. If real arithmetic is desired,
   F=FIX(30.6*M-91.4) = -122+FIX(30.6*(M+1))
   can be used although real arithmetic is usually slower and takes more code space. Other coefficients are possible as described in the previous section. Note that since M is 3 or greater, 30.6*M-91.4 is always positive. Either FIX or the greatest integer function can be used.

STEP 8 The Gregorian date's day of the month is

Day = C - F

STEP 9 Convert the month and year to a calendar starting January 1, using ONE of the following methods:

1. If M>12 then
          Y = Y + 1
          M = M - 12
   end if

2. Y=Y + FIX(M/13)
   M = M - 12*FIX(M/13)

The Gregorian date has
Year = Y
Month = M

This calculation is valid for any Rata Die number including negative Rata Die numbers and produces a Gregorian date (or possibly a proleptic Gregorian date).

Example

The following sequence calculates Gregorian year Y, month M, and day D from a Rata Die number:

Z = RD + 306	step 1
G = Z - .25	used in later steps
A = INT(G / 36524.25)	step 2
B = A - INT(A / 4)	part of step 3
year = INT((B+G) / 365.25)	part of step 3 and step 4
C = B + Z - INT(365.25 * year)	step 5
month = FIX((5 * C + 456) / 153)	step 6
day = C - FIX((153 * month - 457) / 5)	step 7 and 8
IF month > 12 THEN	step 9
year = year + 1	step 9
month = month - 12	step 9
END IF	step 9

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