is 0 even or odd?
- Thread starter Drakmeire
- Start date
I'm a Mathematics teacher. The 'number' two fits the definition of an even number as it is in-fact a multiple of 2:
2x0 = 2.
Its parity is even.
Although I don't often recommend Wikipedia as a reference, reading this MAY help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parity_of_zero
Many people are also claiming that Zero is not an integer:
"Integer - A member of the set of positive whole numbers 1, 2, 3,... , negative whole numbers -1, -2, -3,... , and zero {0}."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integer
Although these facts are debatable, they are called definitions for a reason. These definitions and rules CAN change if you prove them wrong. Just as new formulas are discovered, old formulas can be refined. The problem is that the concept of 0 is simply too hard to work with as it fits both descriptions of being 'even' and 'neither' as well as being an integer and NOT being an integer.
2x0 = 2.
Its parity is even.
Although I don't often recommend Wikipedia as a reference, reading this MAY help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parity_of_zero
Many people are also claiming that Zero is not an integer:
"Integer - A member of the set of positive whole numbers 1, 2, 3,... , negative whole numbers -1, -2, -3,... , and zero {0}."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integer
Although these facts are debatable, they are called definitions for a reason. These definitions and rules CAN change if you prove them wrong. Just as new formulas are discovered, old formulas can be refined. The problem is that the concept of 0 is simply too hard to work with as it fits both descriptions of being 'even' and 'neither' as well as being an integer and NOT being an integer.
Jewrean said:
Well, considering that Wikipedia no longer allows original research, it's actually a reliable source of information.
OT: Why are we still on this topic? I've read through the entire thread and the answer was given about 3 dozen times over.
0 is nothing, and everything
0 is the darkness, and the light.
0 is the beginning and the end. when things are born into this world. they are 0, and as thy leave it, they become 0 again.
0 does not fear the reaper
and 0 will fu** your sh** up if you divide by it.
also. its even
0 is the darkness, and the light.
0 is the beginning and the end. when things are born into this world. they are 0, and as thy leave it, they become 0 again.
0 does not fear the reaper
and 0 will fu** your sh** up if you divide by it.
also. its even
Well that is a pretty poor reason. I am asking what makes the algebraic proof so much more superior to the Geometric series proof. At least with the geometric series no one can say the 9a is not 9. As because 0.999 recurring is 1 it makes the 8.9999... = 9. You can't even try to argue with the infinite Geometric series version. Not that you have a leg to stand on either way.Hagi said:
Every website bar 1 on the first page of googling is 0 even or odd comes up with even and in this case the Wiki article is right and so is my maths book. Also so is observation.funguy2121 said:
Well, the pattern is even-odd-even-odd-even-odd. 1 is odd, 2 is even, -1 is odd, -2 is even, so I guess 0 is even.
What is more shocking the lack of use of a search bar. Although on a forum not using a search bar is to be expected but if you just google the question you get the answer.Fagotto said:I'm just a college student majoring in computer engineering and this is making me want to strangle something XPriverand said:Preach on, Zantos! I'm a high school math teacher practically hyperventilating over here with the responses. You set my mind at ease, I will be able to sleep soundly tonight knowing that your response is out there.Zantos said:
I wonder about how far the people in this thread have gone in math...
I'm glad I could help. However would it spoil it if I said this is the ONLY time I've ever used set theory outside of an exam?riverand said:Preach on, Zantos! I'm a high school math teacher practically hyperventilating over here with the responses. You set my mind at ease, I will be able to sleep soundly tonight knowing that your response is out there.Zantos said:
Fair enough. Our maths department is one of the "If you try to index zero in the natural numbers you WILL be beaten to death with a proof by induction" ones. I don't know how it's taught elsewhere, but I did not want to cross the man with the huge wad of proofs.crudus said:
If you don't have the mathematical knowledge to understand that 0x=0 for all real values of x, then you don't have enough knowledge to form an opinion on what is lazy or not.Heathrow said:
But I'll explain it to you.
Let's say you have three boxes, and each contains zero cookies. If you dump the 'contents' of all three boxes together, you will end up with no cookies. Cookies will not magically appear out of thin air. That's why it works. This proves simultaneously that three times zero = zero, and as well, zero divided by three equals zero because if you take those zero cookies and equally distribute back into their original packages, each package still gets zero cookies. This remains true for every number of boxes.
And the reason zero is even is because zero is divisible by 2.
Someone needs to go back to grade 3 math class.
Why are there over 300 responses to this simple question? Here's the answer from an engineering PhD (me)
Zero is even. Even is definable by the ability to evenly divide by two. Zero is an integer. Zero is a number.
What some of you smarties are trying to argue is that zero is an abstract concept of nothing, however, mathematically, as a separator between -1 and 1, it exists as a concrete construct. Making the argument that zero is a non-entity and doesn't exist would be that same as arguing that black is not a color. Black is a color, though the absence of color produces black. It's basic logic kiddies, sort of like "all vikings have blond hair, but not all people with blond hair are vikings.
I don't even know why I am wasting my time writing this. Zero is a number. Zero is even. Sheesh.
Zero is even. Even is definable by the ability to evenly divide by two. Zero is an integer. Zero is a number.
What some of you smarties are trying to argue is that zero is an abstract concept of nothing, however, mathematically, as a separator between -1 and 1, it exists as a concrete construct. Making the argument that zero is a non-entity and doesn't exist would be that same as arguing that black is not a color. Black is a color, though the absence of color produces black. It's basic logic kiddies, sort of like "all vikings have blond hair, but not all people with blond hair are vikings.
I don't even know why I am wasting my time writing this. Zero is a number. Zero is even. Sheesh.
A well-accepted "definition" of even is:
For an integer x, if x mod 2 = 0, then x is even.
mod 2 refers to the divisibility of x by 2. It is a fancy way of taking the "remainder" from elementary division.
Dividing 0 by 2, we can clearly see that 0 mod 2 is, in fact, 0. Therefore, we conclude that 0 is even. If you're not convinced that 0 is not an integer: To the Google!
For an integer x, if x mod 2 = 0, then x is even.
mod 2 refers to the divisibility of x by 2. It is a fancy way of taking the "remainder" from elementary division.
Dividing 0 by 2, we can clearly see that 0 mod 2 is, in fact, 0. Therefore, we conclude that 0 is even. If you're not convinced that 0 is not an integer: To the Google!