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Name: Melanie C.
Status: student	
Age:  N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 8/3/2004
Question:
Is there any other reason for single-digit placeholder zero to be considered an even number other than its placement on a number line?


Replies:
Zero is neither 'even' nor 'odd' because the symmetries of 'even' x 'even' = 'even';
'even' x 'odd' = 'even' ; and 'odd' x 'odd' = 'odd'. Substituting zero into these placeholders gives the result that zero is both even and odd which is "reductio ad absurdum" and hence undefined.

Vince Calder

Melanie C.,

The definition of "even number" tells us that zero is an even number. Any integer multiple of an integer is an even number. Zero equals two times zero.

Dr. Ken Mellendorf
Physics Instructor
Illinois Central College


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