Is '0' an even number?

[ram]

Had a problem with a DS question.

The explanatory answer considered zero as an even number? Is it an even number. I remember learning at school that zero is neither even nor odd.

[ag]

I think so too.

Remember having learnt in the distant past that zero is neither odd nor even.

BTW can you post the question in which it appeared.

[ram]

What is the sum of 4A7 and 5B2, where A and B take values from 0 to 9?
A. A is an even number
B. The sum of A and B is a multiple of 9.

The Correct Answer given is choice (5) - i.e., the answer cannot be determined from the information provided in the two statements.

[ag]

I seem to miss the point somewhere.

pls let me know why it matters if zero is odd or even to solve this question?

[sree]

Zero is odd or even should not matter for this question.

The only value for A and B that will satisfy both the statements is that A takes 6 and B takes 3.

Choice (3) should be correct IMO.

[2iim]

One of the values that satisfy both the statements is what sree had mentioned

i.e, the value of A is '6' and that of B is '3'. So, it satisfies both the condition and the sum is 9.

But there is another set of values that satisfy both the statements
the value of A being '0' (ZERO IS AN EVEN NUMBER and this is where it matters whether zero is odd or even ) and B taking the value '0'. In this case, the sum A + B will be '0' which is a multiple of 9.

So, we get two values for the sum of A + B viz., 9 or 0.

hence, the information provided in both the statements is not sufficient and the correct answer is choice (5).