Counting by 2s Even Numbers

Counting by 2s means you skip every other number. Instead of 1, 2, 3, 4, you say 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. These numbers are called even numbers. Even numbers can always be split into two equal groups. Counting by 2s is faster than counting by 1s and it helps you count pairs of things.

Every time you count by 2s, you add two. Start at 2: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. Each number is two more than the last one. Even numbers always end in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8. If a number ends in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9, it is odd and not on the count-by-2s list.

Shoes come in pairs, so they are great for counting by 2s. Three pairs of shoes is 2, 4, 6 shoes. Eyes also come in pairs. Four people have 2, 4, 6, 8 eyes. Count wings on birds: two birds have 2, 4 wings. Count wheels on bikes: three bikes have 2, 4, 6 wheels. Anything that comes in pairs is easy to count by 2s.

Even numbers are special because they can always be shared equally between two people. If you have 6 cookies, you can give 3 to a friend and keep 3. That works because 6 is even. If you had 5 cookies, someone would have to get an extra or a half. Even numbers make sharing fair. That is why counting by 2s is so useful.