2, 4, 6 and 8. No one should have any doubts then, they are all even numbers. But in relation to the gentleman that comes before the 1… there is no consensus.
We follow common sense and say that the even numbers are 2, 4, 6 and 8. Among the whole numbers, these are. And the zero? It’s not a even number also?
The zero… It depends. There is no consensus on the answer to this question. As with other mathematical concepts, there is no unanimity. There are discussions, theories, perspectives.
With the help of a reader, we found one on this subject on the Portuguese Mathematics Society website. The author is José Carlos Pereira, mathematics professor.
So, “it depends”. If it is in a context of whole numbers, zero is really an even number. Without going into symbols or expressions that can be confusing: zero is twice zero. Zero is divisible by 2, because the remainder of dividing zero by 2 is zero.
Now the numbers natural. Here, zero is not even – because it is not even a natural number (for some). There are mathematicians who, however, argue that zero is a natural number; being natural is also even.
There is consensus on one issue: zero it’s not unique. It’s just that an odd number is not divisible by 2; and zero is.
Looking at the definition of an even number in the set of integers, zero is in fact an even number, considers the author.
And the Basic Education Mathematics Program (in 2015) was clear: “Students’ attention can be drawn to the alternation between even and odd numbers in the natural counting order. So that this alternation is maintained when zero is also included in the sequence of numbersit must be indicated that the number 0 is even”.
This curriculum program, in the 2nd year, argues that an even number is a sum of partnerships equal to 2 or when there is a sum of equal parts. Now, 0 +0 = 0. It fits the second definition.
Another definition in some school books: there is an alternation of even and odd numbers in the natural order – that is, the zero comes before the odd 1… It’s even.
Yet another definition for the youngest: multiple of 2 is an even number. 2 x 0 = 0.
The zero in the hurricane
O Hurricane Sandy, As incredible as it may seem, it goes into these accounts.
It reminded her that Michael Bloomberg, at the time president of the New York City Council, decided to ration fuel: anyone who had a car with a license plate ending in an odd number would be refueled on an odd day; anyone who had a license plate that ended in an even number or with a zeroit would supply an even number.
In other words, for Michael Bloomberg, zero is not an even number. The founder of Bloomberg messes with numbers a lot; but it is not mathematical.
Nuno Teixeira da Silva, ZAP //
