This only applies to integers, but to clarrify, this passage might help. The even numbers form an ideal in the ring of integers, but the odd numbers do not - this is clear from the fact that the identity element for addition, zero, is an element of the even numbers only. An integer is even if it is congruent to 0 modulo this ideal, in other words if it is congruent to 0 modulo 2, and odd if it is congruent to 1 modulo 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Even_and_odd_numbers Take care, Sina -----Original Message----- From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bob J. Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2008 12:54 PM To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: a virtual math tv program sort of challenge RE: Odd vs Even numbers Is the concept of "odd and even" limited to the set of whole numbers? I can't recall ever hearing any discussion of that concept being applied to other than whole numbers. My recollection of the test for "even" numbers is "Can the target number be divided evenly by two?" If the concept of "odd and even" is limited to whole numbers then so be it. I raise the question because of the following: 24/2=12 where the least significant digit of the "target number" (4) and the least significant digit of the quotient (2) are in the same position and, therefore, 24 is an even number. On the other hand: 25/2=12.5 where the least significant digit of the "target number" (5) and the least significant digit of the quotient (5) are NOT in the same position and, therefore, 25 is an odd number. So, are both of the folllowing numbers odd numbers? 1.6/2=0.8 1.7/2=0.85 Thanks, Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: <jaffar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2008 6:49 PM Subject: a virtual math tv program sort of challenge Hi all. My company has been commisioned to write a virtual math education software for our local primary schools, the purpose of which is to try to raise math standards among our kids. It will be an audio vidio software. One of the functions of the program is to help the kids to distinguish between even and odd numbers, so after a mathematical operation for example, should a result be obtained in an odd number, the answer will appear on the left side of the screen and vice versa. I have been put in charge of the audio interface, and my job is to ensure that the audio when spoken corresponds to the result flashed onscreen, so that odd numbers will be announced on the the left speaker or on the left side of the headphones etc. I have also been given the task of deciding on the programming languages to be used, and I have thus far come up with 3 possibilities, C++ Python or CSharp.net. Before i take up my conclusions with my boss however, There are some questions in would need answering from the more experienced programmers among you. 1. For this software which is entirely windows based, I forsee a heavy reliance on directX. Which programs among the 3 i have listed will allow the easiest call to the directX API? 2. In terms of performance, Which of the 3 will likely be the most stable, reliable and fastest? 3. In writing audio/video programs such as these, which of the 3 languages will yield the best results in productivity in terms of programming time, bearing in mind that we have 3 months to come up with a working model for our education ministry to review? 4. I am envisaging the software in question to be built as a desktop app, but with a web UI. Could i then build the whole app interfacing 2 programming languages, python for the web UI and c++ for the app itself, for example? How well would this model work? Any comment or suggestion is very welcome. Thanks and Cheers! __________ View the list's information and change your settings at //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind __________ View the list's information and change your settings at //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind