An Italian workman wants a job, but the foreman won’t hire him until he passes a little math test. Here’s your first question,’ the foreman said. ‘Without using numbers, represent the number 9.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Withouta numbers?’ the Italian says, ‘Datsa easy.’ and he proceeds to draw three trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘What’s this?’ the boss asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Ave you gotta no brain? Tree and tree and tree makes a nine,’ says the Italian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Fair enough,’ says the boss. ‘Here’s your second question. Use the same rules, but this time the number is 99.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Italian stares into space for a while, then picks up the picture that he has just drawn and makes a smudge on each tree . ‘Ere you go.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n