Meno: Yes, Socrates, I recall he did the other day.
Socrates: And you know the way to undo multiplication?
Boy: It is called division, but I do not know it as well as multiplication, since we have not studied it as long.
Socrates: Well, I will not ask you to do much division, but rather I will ask you only whether certain answers may be called odd or even, and the like. Does that suit you?
Boy: It suits me well, Socrates.
Socrates: Then you know what odd and even are, boy?
Boy: Yes, shall I tell you?
Socrates: Please do. I would love to hear what they teach.
Boy: (the boy recites) A number can only be odd or even if it is a whole number, that is has no parts but only wholes of what it measures. Even numbers are special in that they have only whole twos in them, with no ones left over, while odd numbers always have a one left over when all the twos are taken out.
Socrates: An interesting, and somewhat effective definition.
Do you agree, Meno.