2IIM - CAT Discussion Forum

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.

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.

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.

I seem to miss the point somewhere.

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

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.

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).