Lord Noel Explains The Numbers Game

Whatto! Mathematicians.............

When I was in The Foreign Office I was asked if I would help out in interviewing people for the position of Accountant within the Department..............

Unfortunately we were desperate enough to have anyone!........and because of the terrible Salary on offer the standard of Candidate was extremely poor.............
..........so it was really a question of having to make the best of a bad job!
Personally I've always believed there are really only three kinds of people in the world: those who can count, and those who can't!
Anyway............as this was a Government Department we were given 'set' questions to ask each Candidate.............. to ensure fairness................
We asked the First Candidate who wanted to be an accountant one of the set questions...... "If we give you two rabbits...............



.........and then we give you another two rabbits........... how many rabbits do you have?"

He immediately answered: "Five!"
As he was from Cambridge we decided to give him another chance.................
We said "No, listen carefully again............... If we give you two rabbits.............


.........and then we give you another two rabbits..................


.................how many rabbits have you got?"
Without any hesitation he replied: "Five!"
I intervened at this point.......... and said "Alright......Let's try this another way.............. If I give you two bottles of Champagne..............

.........and then I give you another two bottles of Champagne........

..... how many bottles of Champagne have you got?"
The Candidate smiled broadly and replied: "Four!"
Lord Noel: "Excellent!"
I was so pleased we seemed to be making some progress at last!....................
So I returned to the set question.......... "Now, if we give you two rabbits.................
.............and then we give you another two rabbits........

.................how many rabbits have you got?"
Candidate: "Five!"
I was totally bewildered by his response and asked him "How on earth do you work out that two lots of two rabbits is five?"
Candidate: "Well..........I've already got one rabbit at home!"


Now here's something you can try at home:

Multiply (13837) x (Your Age) x (73)
= ???????? .....WoW!


Tallyho!
Best Wishes - Lord Noel