Irish Mathematics

[Boo]

An Irishman applies for a job, but the foreman won't employ him until

he passes a little maths test.

"Here's your first question, the foreman said

"Without using numbers, represent the number 9."

Without numbers?" the Irishman says, "Dat is easy." and proceeds to

draw three trees.

What's this?" the boss asks.

"Haven't you got a brain? Tree and tree and tree makes nine," says

the Irishman.

"Fair enough," says the boss. "Here's your second question. Apply the

same rules using the number 99, this time."

The Irishman stares into space for a while, then picks up the picture

that he has just drawn and makes a smudge on each tree. "Dere you go."

The boss scratches his head and asks, "How on earth do you get that

to represent 99?"

"Each of da trees is dirty now. So, dat's dirty tree, and dirty tree, and

dirty tree. Dat equals 99."

The boss starts getting worried that he's actually going to have to

give the Irishman the job, so he says,

"All right, final question, same rules again, but represent the number

100."

The Irishman stares into space for a while, then picks up the picture

again and makes a little mark at the base of each tree and says, "Dere you

go. One hundred."

The boss looks at the illustration and bursts out: "You must be nuts

if you think that represents a hundred!"

WAIT FOR IT WAIT...

Whereby the Irishman leans forward and points to the marks at the base of

each tree, saying: "A little dog came along and crapped by each tree.

So now you've got dirty tree and a turd, dirty tree and a turd, and

dirty tree and a turd, dat makes one hundred. ... So, when do I be

starting the job?!"