Question:
My son's teacher has told him that the number zero(0) is an
even number. I disagree and say that it is in a class all its own,
neither even or odd. Could someone tell us whether zero(0) is even, odd
or neither?
Replies:
The correct definition of an even number is any number that can be expressed
as two multiplied by any integer. An odd number cannot be expressed this
way. Zero is an integer. Two times zero is zero. Since we can express
zero as two times an integer, zero is an even number. ----- Zero is in a
class by itself when you talk about signs. There are positive numbers:
numbers greater than zero. In accounting, these represent profits and
gains. There are negative numbers: numbers less than zero. In accounting,
these represent debts and losses. Then there is zero. In accounting, zero
is neither a gain nor a loss.-----
NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.
