I am an odd number. take away one letter and i become even. what number am i?

Mathematics
1

i am an odd number. take away one letter and i become even. what number am i?

2

What number am I if I am an odd number that becomes even when one letter is removed?

Answer:

Introduction:

The statement, “I am an odd number. Take away one letter and I become even,” is a classic riddle that plays on the dual meanings of words rather than a purely mathematical problem. Let’s break this down step by step.

Step 1: Understand the Problem:

  • We begin with an odd number.
  • By removing a single letter from its spelling, the word transforms into a word that represents an even number.

Step 2: List Odd Numbers:

Odd numbers are integers that cannot be evenly divided by 2. Examples of odd numbers are 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and so on. We will focus on these and examine their spelling to find which fits the criteria.

Step 3: Analyze the Spelling:

  • Start by spelling out some odd numbers:
    • One
    • Three
    • Five
    • Seven
    • Nine
  • Since the riddle suggests taking away a letter to form a word for an even number, inspect the spellings for potential modifications.

Step 4: Try Possible Letters:

  • We notice that “seven” is an odd number.
  • If we remove the letter “s,” we get “even,” which is indeed the word for the even number two, four, six, etc.

Step 5: Verify:

  • Original word: Seven (an odd number).
  • Remove ‘s’: even (word that means even).

Final Answer:

The odd number is seven. Removing the letter “s” transforms it into “even,” a word symbolizing an even number. This solution utilizes a clever play on words rather than a straightforward arithmetic operation.