2 ms·
Perhaps they learn that "even" is equivalent to "divisible by 2", and then they go on to conjecture that "odd" is equivalent to "divisible by 3", or maybe "divi
by waqf 16y ago
Perhaps they learn that "even" is equivalent to "divisible by 2", and then they go on to conjecture that "odd" is equivalent to "divisible by 3", or maybe "divisible by 1" or "divisible by at least one odd prime"?
- JadeNB 16y agoWithout meaning to be unduly cynical, I suspect that's attributing to the average person altogether too much mathematical inquisitiveness and willingness to conjecture; but I'd love it if your explanation, especially the last, were the correct one. EDIT: Incidentally, this reminds me of one of my favourite pedagogical techniques, which I was heartbroken to discover recently is not original to me. After discussing even and odd numbers, as a very basic introduction to modular arithmetic, I like to introduce and discuss ‘threeven’ and ‘throdd’ numbers, and discover that they don't behave quite as nicely—what to do, what to do ….