Have you ever before wondered about how plenty of gifts the singer got in the renowned Twelve work of Christmas song? The answer reveals a how amazing mathematical pattern!
(If you require reminding about the text they can be uncovered at the bottom of this page.)
Let united state look in ~ how countless gifts were obtained on each day.
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Day | Gifts obtained on the day | Running complete at finish of each day |
1 | 1 | 1 |
2 | 1+2=3 | 1+3=4 |
3 | 1+2+3=6 | 1+3+6=10 |
4 | 1+2+3+4=10 | 1+3+6+10=20 |
5 | 1+2+3+4+5=15 | 1+3+6+10+15=35 |
6 | 1+2+3+4+5+6=21 | 1+3+6+10+15+21=56 |
7 | 1+2+3+4+5+6+7=28 | 1+3+6+10+15+21+28=84 |
8 | 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8=36 | 1+3+6+10+15+21+28+36=120 |
9 | 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9=45 | 1+3+6+10+15+21+28+36+45=165 |
10 | 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10=55 | 1+3+6+10+15+21+28+36+45+55=220 |
11 | 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11=66 | 1+3+6+10+15+21+28+36+45+55+66=286 |
12 | 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12=78 | 1+3+6+10+15+21+28+36+45+55+66+78=364 |
Total Gifts
The an initial nice reality is the the singer receives 364 presents in complete – one for every day of the year apart from Christmas day!
There are additionally some various other nice concealed mathematical patterns.
Gifts received each day
Let us look in ~ what happens on day n. On now the singer receive 1+2+3+…+n gifts. This is likewise the an interpretation of the nth triangular number. On day 7 for instance the singer receives 28 gifts which is the 7th triangle number.
There is also a famous formula for adding up the first n herbal numbers which is:
1 + 2 + 3 + … +

If we imagine the the singer had ongoing singing for 20 work they would have actually received:

Running total of gifts
Let us currently look in ~ the running full of gifts at the finish of day
The running total will be same to



Luckily we have actually a formula because that the nth tetrahedral number i beg your pardon is

Let’s inspect it functions for our running full on job 12:

Now imagine if the singer had ongoing receiving presents from your true love because that 20 days. The singer will certainly have:


Lyrics of the Twelve job of Christmas
On the very first day of Christmas,my true love sent to meA partridge in a pear tree.
On the 2nd day that Christmas,my true love sent out to meTwo tortoise doves,And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the 3rd day that Christmas,my true love sent to meThree French hens,Two tortoise doves,And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day the Christmas,my true love sent out to meFour call birds,Three French hens,Two turtle doves,And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day the Christmas,my true love sent to meFive gold rings,Four call birds,Three French hens,Two tortoise doves,And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day that Christmas,my true love sent to meSix geese a-laying,Five golden rings,Four phone call birds,Three French hens,Two tortoise doves,And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the saturday day that Christmas,my true love sent to meSeven swans a-swimming,Six geese a-laying,Five gold rings,Four calling birds,Three French hens,Two tortoise doves,And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth work of Christmas,my true love sent to meEight maids a-milking,Seven swans a-swimming,Six geese a-laying,Five gold rings,Four phone call birds,Three French hens,Two turtle doves,And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the 9th day the Christmas,my true love sent to meNine women dancing,Eight maids a-milking,Seven swans a-swimming,Six geese a-laying,Five gold rings,Four call birds,Three French hens,Two turtle doves,And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth job of Christmas,my true love sent to meTen lords a-leaping,Nine women dancing,Eight maids a-milking,Seven swans a-swimming,Six geese a-laying,Five gold rings,Four call birds,Three French hens,Two tortoise doves,And a partridge in a pear tree.
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On the eleventh day of Christmas,my true love sent out to meEleven pipers piping,Ten lords a-leaping,Nine females dancing,Eight maids a-milking,Seven swans a-swimming,Six geese a-laying,Five golden rings,Four calling birds,Three French hens,Two tortoise doves,And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,my true love sent to meTwelve drummers drumming,Eleven pipers piping,Ten lords a-leaping,Nine ladies dancing,Eight maids a-milking,Seven swans a-swimming,Six geese a-laying,Five golden rings,Four phone call birds,Three French hens,Two turtle doves,And a partridge in a pear tree!