Here’s a joke that brings a little fun to the topic of memory and how the mind can work in unexpected—and hilarious—ways. Picture this: a quiet, clean doctor’s office where three elderly men are sitting across from a kind and patient doctor. It’s a routine memory check, the kind that’s done to make sure everything’s still sharp and running smoothly upstairs.
The doctor smiles warmly and starts off with a very basic question, one that most of us learned in elementary school. Looking at the first gentleman, he asks, “Can you tell me, what is three times three?” The man doesn’t hesitate for a second. He confidently blurts out, “274.” Now, the doctor doesn’t say anything, but you can almost see the surprise flicker across his face. He nods gently, maybe makes a small note on his clipboard, and moves on to the next man. Turning to the second gentleman, the doctor repeats the question: “Okay, your turn. What’s three times three?” This man furrows his brow, thinks it over carefully, and then, with equal confidence, answers, “Tuesday.” At this point, the doctor might be trying hard not to laugh.
He keeps a professional face, though, because this is a test after all, and strange answers might just be part of the process. Still, between 274 and Tuesday, it’s clear that this test is going in a direction he didn’t quite expect. Finally, the doctor turns to the third man, likely with a mix of hope and curiosity. “How about you?” he asks. “What’s three times three?” Without missing a beat, the third man says, “Nine.” The doctor immediately lights up, clearly relieved. “Wonderful!” he says enthusiastically. “That’s correct! Great job!” Wanting to understand how this gentleman arrived at the right answer when the first two were so wildly off, the doctor follows up with another question. “So how did you figure that out?” he asks with a curious smile.
And here comes the punchline that makes the whole joke land with perfect comedic timing. The third man looks completely serious and says, “Simple. I just subtracted 274 from Tuesday.” And that’s it—that’s the joke! What makes it funny isn’t just the silliness of the responses, but the clever way it highlights how humor can come from unexpected connections. It plays with logic in a way that sounds absurd but makes perfect comedic sense. You see, jokes like this work because they flip normal expectations. Everyone knows that three times three is nine, so when the first two answers are totally off the wall, it catches you off guard.
But the best part is the last guy, who not only gets it right but gives a ridiculous explanation that somehow wraps the whole scenario into one neat and hilarious twist. It’s also a gentle and light-hearted take on memory and aging. Rather than making fun of the elderly, it celebrates their humor, imagination, and ability to see the world in their own unique way. We’ve all had moments where our brains give us an answer that doesn’t quite fit the question. And in those moments, sometimes laughter really is the best medicine. It’s a reminder that being wrong isn’t always a bad thing—it can lead to something funny, something sweet, or something that brings people together in a smile. So the next time someone gives an unexpected answer to a simple question, don’t be too quick to correct them. You never know—they might just be setting up the perfect punchline. This joke is a small celebration of how unpredictable, whimsical, and downright fun our minds can be. Whether you’re young or old, sharp as a tack or a little forgetful now and then, there’s always room for a laugh, especially the kind that sneaks up on you like subtracting 274 from Tuesday to get nine.
