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Number Systems

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Pi Memorisation. This section will help you memorize Pi.

Pi Memorisation

Pi is defined, in Euclidean geometry, as a constant which is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. Why Pi? Pi is a challenge to memorize because the number of digits in it are infinite, and there's no discernable pattern anywhere to the order of the digits. There are many other constants with these qualities (most notably e, the base of natural logarithms, and the square root of 2), but since Pi is usually introduced in geometry before other similar numbers, Pi is the most recognizable of these numbers. Together, all these qualities help make Pi a classic challenge, and allow you to determine to what degree you wish to meet the challenge.

What are the Digits of Pi? There are several sources for the digits of Pi. How Many Digits Should I Memorize? This will largely be determined by your interest in the topic, and to what use you will put your knowledge of Pi. Up to 31 Digits May I have a large container of coffee? Binary Numbers System. When you hear that the binary system is used in computer science, and that it involves long strings of ones and zeroes, it can seem very scary.

Binary Numbers System

The term "binary" alone simply refers to anything that is limited to one of two states. The term binary system refers to a system of counting by using a series of ones and zeroes. In our standard system, based on powers of 10, we use the numbers 0 through 9 in each space. When I say a number like "1,302", I'm actually speaking of 1 one-thousand, plus 3 hundreds, plus 0 tens, plus 2 ones.

The Dominic System. The Dominic System is a MemoryTechnique that made its designer, Dominic O'Brien, World Memory Champion (he can memorise the order of a full deck of playing cards in less than a minute).

The Dominic System

Some people who find the MajorSystem too dry and restrictive find they can stick with the Dominic System. Basics The Dominic System uses an easy-to-remember number-to-letter conversion and the initials of memorable people, as well as "journeys" that are like MemoryPalaces. The number-to-letter correspondences run as follows: The numbers 00 to 99 are remembered via famous people and actions characteristic of them. Four-digit numbers can be remembered by combining the person for the first two digits with the action for the second two digits. Five-digit numbers are memorised by adding a symbol from the NumberShapeSystem to the image, so that 80152 might be represented by Santa writing on a blackboard with a swan (2) tucked under one arm.

Advantages The 1=A, 2=B, 3=C, etc. Dry run Comparison with SemCubed. Major System. The Major System was devised by Stanislaus Mink von Wennsshein in the seventeenth century.

Major System

His aim was to produce a system that could be used to convert numbers into letters and words and back again. This system was further refined in the eighteenth century by Dr Richard Grey and it is this system which is now widly accepted and used. The Major System can be used in may ways but its use in SemCubed is to provide a PegSystem for the numbers 0 to 99. Tony_Buzan? Describes how SemCubed can be used in his book Master Your Memory. In the Major system, every digit is associated with a sound: Not all sounds are associated with digits: Vowels (generally spelled a,e,i,o,u,y) and some sounds like "h" or "w" or "th", frequently do not have a numeric value. The sounds without numbers are used as 'fillers,' which allow words to be created from any sequence of numbers. It's important to understand that it's a sound, or at least, related sounds, that the digit is associated with.

Number Syllable System. How?

Number Syllable System

This is my own system, devised following the principles of pronounceable-nonsense password generators. Each digit is assigned a unique consonant and arbitrary vowel. Together these form syllables which make the number pronounceable. There were enough unique and distinct consonants in the English orthography to encode number bases up to hexadecimal. The syllables are: Memorize the syllable as the actual pronunciation of the digit. Example: the first few digits of pi are: now chunk that into pseudo words: Voila, memorable. Why? I thought it would be good if a way could be made to manipulate numbers as if they were words, because people are so much better at memorizing words than numbers. I chose to use unique consonants because they seem to be the most important part of language (compare the number of written languages that omit vowels entirely). Number Color System.

Number Shape System. The number shape system is a method of replacing hard to remember and abstract numbers with an image which is easy to remember.

Number Shape System

As an example the number one is replaced with an image which is similar in shape to the number '1', such as a pen, pencil or arrow. The other numbers can similarly be replaced and the following sequence is one suggestion for the numbers 0 to 9. Tyre, Candle, Swan, Heart, Yacht, Hook, Elephants trunk, Axe, Hour Glass, Tennis Racket. Number Rhyme System.