Understanding Age Calculations
This tool follows the international age system used by most Western nations, where your age advances on your birthday. For example, someone born 3 years and 11 months ago remains age 3 until their next birthday. However, cultural interpretations vary significantly:
Cultural Variations
• East Asian Tradition: Babies start at age 1 at birth, with annual increments at the Lunar New Year. A child born just before the festival would turn age 2 within days.
• Year-Counting Systems: Some cultures count ongoing years (e.g., being “in your 21st year” at age 20) rather than completed years.
Month Calculation Nuances
Our system counts full calendar months from matching dates (e.g., Feb 20-Mar 20 = 1 month). End-of-month scenarios have two valid interpretations:
- Same-Day Counting: Feb 28 → Mar 28 = 1 month
(Extra days shown separately: +3 days in Feb 28-Mar 31 case) - Month-End Adjustment: Feb 28 → Mar 31 = 1 month
While both methods are mathematically sound, this calculator uses the first approach to maintain consistent date alignment. This choice particularly affects calculations between months with differing lengths (e.g., April 30-May 31 or June 30-July 30), where we prioritize day-for-day accuracy over month-end adjustments.
Why It Matters
The Gregorian calendar’s uneven month lengths (28-31 days) create these inherent discrepancies. Our calculations prioritize transparency by showing exact day differences when months don’t align perfectly.