Golden pork

Yellow Pig Day is a nonsensical celebration based on logical exploration. Back in the swingin’, singin’, pig swillin’ sixties, Michael Spivak and David C. Kelly, a couple of Princeton mathematics students, started analysing the number seventeen and eventually created a theoretical creature: a yellow pig with seventeen of everything.

As you do.

For years this has been celebrated by academics (and students who will use any excuse to get drunk) on 17^th July, and there are even special songs reserved for the occasion. Here’s one I found earlier, which is called ‘Oh n+1!’ and is to be sung to the tune of ‘New York, New York!’

Start with the base case, and if it’s alright

I will assume the truth of it for n and then

My old chewed up pen, is longing to write

A joyful Q.E.D. for it, oh n+1.

I want to prove this conjecture so I can sleep

I’ve counted subgroups and orders and sets – now let me count sheep!

My problem set blues are melting away

I’ll find a brand new proof for it, oh n+1

If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere Oh n+1, oh n+1!

Ahhh, those maths students really do know how to pig out on the revelry!