Definition:Even Integer/Historical Note
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Historical Note on Even Integer
The concept of classifying numbers as odd or even appears to have originated with the Pythagoreans.
It was their belief that even numbers are female, and odd numbers are male.
A commentator on Plato used the term isosceles number for an even number, in correspondence with the concept of an isosceles triangle. In a similar way an odd number was described as scalene.
Sources
- 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $3$
- 1992: George F. Simmons: Calculus Gems ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {A}.2$: Pythagoras (ca. $\text {580}$ – $\text {500}$ B.C.)
- 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $3$