ODDLY, IS
IT MORE EVEN?
In the
morning an odd thought started haunting me. We have odd numbers and even
numbers and both are important. Still why do we have a certain bias for the
even numbers? What is so odd about the odd numbers and why even numbers are so
even?
Even if I
sleep alone in my double bed, there are always two pillows kept. While I do my
exercise, the count of each exercise end up in even numbers. Our currency notes
are predominantly even numbers (one rupee is extinct and five rupees will
follow soon). I learned writing in two lined or four lined books. How many
times your doctor had told you to take medicine for 11 days or 13 days? At
petrol pump I end up filling petrol for 50,100,1000 …rupees. Usain Bolt set
world records for 100 meters and 200 meters and not for 103 or 211 meters.
While buying the shirt I felt 40 size too tight and the sales guy promptly gave
me 42 which was loose; I asked for 41 and he said they don’t have such odd
sizes. We normally agree to meet at 4 o clock or may be 8 o’clock, but never at
4.25 or 8.55 or even 4.13. Is it because 4.13 is not a good time to meet? When
was the last time you bought 11 eggs from the shop or 9 for that matter? When
my first two-wheeler arrived, my friend was less enthusiastic. He worriedly
told me, your registration number, when added, becomes an odd number which is
not auspicious, you won’t get a good buyer for the vehicle too. That time I
countered him by arguing that I bought it to ride and not to sell. I should
admit that my rational mind was affected by his superstitious reasoning. So, I was wondering why do we generally tend
to round off the numbers to even numbers?
When I
shared this thought with my son and few friends, they came out defending the
odd numbers. They argued that is not always correct. For example, football and
cricket teams have 11 players each. Test match cricket is for five days. When
we pay Shakun, we add one rupee and make it 51,101, or 1001. We shrink 30 CMS
or 12 inches into one foot. Scientist friend reminded me about nine planets and
nine holes in our body. Dancer friend said that we have nine rasas. The
business man chipped in that BATA always have their price in odd numbers. For
competitive exams we need to choose the odd man out.
These
counter arguments were strong and sensible enough. That made me think that
maybe I was prejudiced by my views. That is when the EVEN supporters came with
much more evidences.
Of course,
the competitive exams ask for the odd man out, but the questions normally have
four options. If you multiply an even
number with another even or odd number you get an even number. However, if you
multiply an odd number with and even number you will get only an even number.
Cricket may have 11 players and test match can be for 5 days, but what is
popular is 20-20 or 50 overs match and we get excited when a four or six is
scored. Also don’t forget for football TEN is the most coveted jersey number.
Further, we have four directions and seasons as well. For exams they ask you to
write 300- or 500-words essays. The tax rate is generally even number, though
it is not that evenly levied. Battery has two poles- positive and negative. A
year can be 365 days, month 31 days and a week 7 days. But a day is 24 hours,
each hour 60 minutes and each minute 60 seconds.
It seems EVEN
supporters have an upper hand. That need not confirm them as the winners. Odd
supporters can always turn up with something really odd. If we look at it
closely the very philosophical argument of our culture revolves around the
concept of Dvaitha and Advaitha. Probably here we can take a Socrates line of
thinking and open up this topic for more dialogue.
I will be
really interested to know your thoughts on it. Innately are we inclined to even
numbers? Are we programmed to it or do we really have a fixation for even
numbers? While waiting for your thoughts I also suggest that we should
deliberately do something odd at times to break the pattern. May be buy 9
bananas next time or send your responses at an odd hour.
