Even and Odd Numbers
Even and Odd Numbers in Grade 4 Saxon Math Intermediate 4 Chapter 1 teaches students the fastest rule for classification: look only at the last digit. Numbers ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 are even (they can be split into two equal groups with nothing remaining). Numbers ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 are odd (one item is always left over). For 2,347, the last digit is 7, so it is odd regardless of how large the number is. This one-digit shortcut eliminates the need to count or divide large numbers to determine parity.
Key Concepts
New Concept The numbers we say when we start with 2 and then count up by twos are even numbers .
What’s next Next, you’ll apply this rule to identify even and odd numbers and use this property to solve problems.
Common Questions
How do you tell if a number is even or odd?
Look only at the last digit. Digits 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 mean even; digits 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 mean odd.
Is 2,347 even or odd?
Odd. The last digit is 7, which is an odd digit.
What makes a number even?
A number is even if it can be split into two equal groups with nothing left over. In practice, check whether the last digit is 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8.
Can a very large number be odd?
Yes. The size of the number does not matter. Only the last digit determines whether a number is even or odd. 999,999,997 is odd because it ends in 7.
Why does only the last digit determine parity?
All even place values (tens, hundreds, thousands) are divisible by 2, so they never affect whether a number is even or odd. Only the ones place (last digit) determines divisibility by 2.