Grade 2 number sense lesson
Even and Odd Numbers: How to Identify, Examples, Tricks, and Chart
Even numbers can be paired with no leftover. Odd numbers have one left over. For larger numbers, the last digit tells the answer quickly.
What are even and odd numbers?
An even number can be split into pairs with nothing left over.
An odd number cannot be split into pairs perfectly. There is always one left over.
That is the main idea. Even means pairs are complete. Odd means one does not have a partner.
Printable even and odd numbers chart
Use this SumReflex chart to remember the pairing idea and the last-digit trick for identifying even and odd numbers.
The same chart is also available in the Printable Number Reference Charts section with print and download options.
The pair test
The pair test is the easiest way to understand even and odd numbers.
If you have 8 counters, you can make 4 pairs. Nothing is left alone, so 8 is even.
If you have 9 counters, you can make 4 pairs and 1 counter is left alone, so 9 is odd.
This works with toys, pencils, shoes, socks, blocks, dots, or any group of objects.
The fast last-digit trick
For bigger numbers, you do not need to pair every object or count every digit.
Look only at the last digit, also called the ones digit.
If the last digit is 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8, the number is even.
If the last digit is 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9, the number is odd.
Why the last digit works
The last digit tells how many ones are left after all the tens are grouped.
Every group of 10 is even because 10 can be split into 5 pairs.
So the tens, hundreds, thousands, and bigger places do not change whether the number is even or odd. The last digit decides it.
Example: 342 is even because it ends in 2. The 34 tens are already even groups, and the final 2 can make one pair.
Is zero even?
Yes. 0 is even.
Even means a number can be split into two equal whole-number groups with no leftover. Zero can be split as 0 and 0, so it has no leftover.
That is why any number ending in 0 is even: 10, 20, 40, 100, 230, and 5,000 are all even.
Even numbers from 0 to 20
The even numbers from 0 to 20 are: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20.
They skip count by 2. Each even number is 2 more than the even number before it.
Every even number ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8.
Odd numbers from 1 to 19
The odd numbers from 1 to 19 are: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19.
Odd numbers also skip count by 2, but they start at 1.
Every odd number ends in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9.
Example 1: Is 14 even or odd?
Look at the last digit in 14.
The last digit is 4.
Since 4 is in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, the number 14 is even.
Example 2: Is 27 even or odd?
Look at the last digit in 27.
The last digit is 7.
Since 7 is in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, the number 27 is odd.
Example 3: Is 132 even or odd?
Do not worry about 1 and 3 at the front. Only check the last digit.
132 ends in 2.
Since 2 is even, 132 is even.
Example 4: Is 4,589 even or odd?
A large number can still be checked quickly.
4,589 ends in 9.
Since 9 is odd, 4,589 is odd.
Example 5: Is 30,640 even or odd?
Look at the last digit.
30,640 ends in 0.
Since 0 is even, 30,640 is even.
A quick way to explain your answer
Use this sentence: The number ___ is even because it ends in ___.
Example: The number 86 is even because it ends in 6.
For odd numbers, use: The number ___ is odd because it ends in ___.
Example: The number 51 is odd because it ends in 1.
Patterns with even and odd numbers
Even + even = even. Example: 4 + 6 = 10.
Odd + odd = even. Example: 5 + 7 = 12. The two leftovers pair together.
Even + odd = odd. Example: 8 + 3 = 11.
These patterns are useful for mental math, but the last digit is still the fastest way to identify one number.
Common mistakes
Do not check the first digit. The first digit does not decide even or odd.
Do not say a number is odd just because it is large. Large numbers can be even or odd.
Do not forget that 0 is even. Any whole number ending in 0 is even.
Do not count all the digits. Only the ones digit matters.
Practice with answers
1. 18 is even because it ends in 8.
2. 33 is odd because it ends in 3.
3. 72 is even because it ends in 2.
4. 105 is odd because it ends in 5.
5. 480 is even because it ends in 0.
6. 9,617 is odd because it ends in 7.
7. 24,036 is even because it ends in 6.
8. 100,001 is odd because it ends in 1.
The big idea
Even numbers make complete pairs. Odd numbers have one leftover.
For quick identification, check the last digit.
Last digit 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 means even. Last digit 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 means odd.