# The circle of three

I'm the first, but also second

I'm rather odd, but also not

I am the circle of three

What am I?

You are:

2

I'm the first, but also second

The first prime, but also the second (depending on convention: 1 used to be regarded as prime).

I'm rather odd, but also not

2 is the oddest prime (it is even).

The circle of three

???

• You are correct! For solving the third clue, here is a hint: Think of pi instead of the circle. Also, in the first sentence is another clue. First is a synonym of prime, as in e.g. prime minister. And it is the second natural number. – wythagoras Jan 6 '16 at 18:09
• $\Bbb Z_2$ is only {0,1}. {0, 1, 2} is $\Bbb Z_3$ – Paul Sinclair Jan 6 '16 at 21:42
• The third clue translates to $\pi(3)$, where $\pi(n)$ is the prime-counting function. – MathET Jan 7 '16 at 22:56
• @IvanBarreto That is where I wanted my clue to point to. – wythagoras Jan 25 '16 at 19:30

You are the

Second hand in a clock

Explanation Follows

I'm the first, but also second

Second hand is the fastest and to reach the 12 hour mark first. But its calles Second.

I'm rather odd, but also not

Some time the second hand points to an odd number but in the next instant it will be an even number

I am the circle of three

The rotation of second hand manages second, minutes (one complete rotation of second hand) and hours (60 complete rotations of second hand). The numbers/points in circular form in a clock represents seconds, minutes and hours.

• Very close, and good explanation, but not where I was looking for. – wythagoras Jan 6 '16 at 10:06
• The last clue fits more to the number marks in the clock. May be that's what your intended answer is. :) – AeJey Jan 6 '16 at 10:07
• No that is also not the correct answer. In fact, your original answer is closer. – wythagoras Jan 6 '16 at 10:09

You are:

a clock

I'm the first, but also second

the first to show the time and the seconds in the time

I'm rather odd, but also not

the hour, minute and second can be odd numbers and also can be not odd i.e. even

The circle of three

a clock is a circle with three hands

• No, you removed the wrong part from the other answer. – wythagoras Jan 6 '16 at 13:46

You are:

the hands of a clock

I'm the first, but also second

The second hand also the minute hand both go all the way around?

I'm rather odd, but also not

The hour, minute and second can be odd numbers and also even

The circle of three

Minute, hour and second hands

• Nope, it is not a part of a clock. – wythagoras Jan 6 '16 at 17:17