How Does Steve Memorized in School?

[Joel Chue]

Hi guys.

I was reading Steve's Top 10 Tips For College Students.

He talked about using advanced memory techniques to improve
recall. My question is how did he apply pegging and chaining
to subjects such as physics and mathematics.

I find such skills more effective in the business aspects.
They are extremely useful to me. Pegging things to
different parts of my body.

So how does it apply this concept in school? Students
tend to use mindmaps for note-taking nowdays. How
can we incorporate both for the greatest benefit?

Thanks.

[Joel Chue]

Probably I have to make my post clearer? This opens
to everybody.

How would you use pegging or chaining to memorize
formulas of Mathematics and Physics?

How do you apply it? Memory programs that teach
pegging and chaining tend to use examples
that do NOT have a very extensive case studies
to apply such techniques.

Thanks

[Brutha]

Lets take a²+b²=c².

Visulise the following:
A right angle triangle.
On the A-side of the triangle their are a few apes that form a quadrat with their bodys.
On the B-side their are a few bear that form a quadrat with their bodys.
On the C-side their are a few cats that form a quadrat with their bodys.
If you can make that picture in your mind you have no problem to remember a²+b²=c².

So the trick is to replace abstact words with physical items that can be visulised, and to have fun in the process. If you have fun the images are emotional charged and the brain is better in remembering emotional charged images.

[b212]

I have wondered about this question too. I study physics, and I have also studied memory techniques, but I have never really seen how they can be
applied to formulas. The only method I know for learning is basically by repetition. Either by solving lots of problems with a particular formula, or if you have to just writing it over an over every day until you can write it without thinking. Also, many formulas can be derived from more fundamental ones, so you have to pick and choose what is worth memorizing.

Regarding the post above using the pythagorean theorem as an example..., thats really too trivial -- i mean I have never seen how to extend that logic to formulas where there isn't an obvious physical picture you can thing of to peg things too, or that there are many forumlas that are of similar form...

a few examples of formulas that really need to memorized (in quantum mechanics, for example), that I can't really see how to effectively apply
memory techniques to:

gaussian integral:
integral[-inf,inf] {(x^2)*exp[-a(x^2)]*dx} = (1/2a)*(sqrt(pi/a))

the multiple representations of the dirac delta fuction:
delta(x)=integral[-inf,inf] {(dw/2pi)*exp[iwx]}
delta(x)=limit(n->inf) {(n/sqrt(2pi))*exp[-(n^2)*(x^2)/2]}
delta(x)=limit(n->inf) {(1/(x*pi))*sin(nx)}

[Brutha]

Its important to have an internal language.
So find something that represents "integral[-inf,inf]" in your mind that is easy to picture. Because you have multiple integrals to learn it is worth it.

You need also something for "pi", "-1", "/", "limit(n->inf)", "exp()" and "sqrt()".
You can use persons you know as pegs for them.

For all the letters like x, a, n, i and w I would recommend animals that begin with the letter.
Sure for X this is no animal that begins with X so take on with X in its name.

Now you can picture a table where at the guy, who you have pegged with integral, sits at the first position.
The next two seats are filled with you X animal (X*X).
Then you have the exp guy. Followed by the -1 guy, the A-animal and two X animals.
I would take nothing for dx since every normal integral ends with dx. If you want to take something for dx feel free.
If you want to keep your ()s you can give the right people some meal in front of them and some drink for []s.
At the other side of the table there sits the right part of the equation.

Sure you have to learn a few peg words for a few mathematical functions. But I think it is worth the effort.

But I would also look forward to Steve presenting the mnemonic devices he used in his college years.

I would also recommend the book by Harry Lorayne:
Super Memory Super Student.
It is more targeted at high school student then at those who study mathematics, but it is good information neverless.

[b212]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Now you can picture a table where at the guy, who you have pegged with integral, sits at the first position.
The next two seats are filled with you X animal (X*X).
Then you have the exp guy. Followed by the -1 guy, the A-animal and two X animals.
Sure you have to learn a few peg words for a few mathematical functions. But I think it is worth the effort.

That is an interesting idea...I may give it a try when studying for exams.
One thing I have trouble with in the math stuff is that there may be no particular reason for one equation to have x^2 and not just x, for example, so even when using such a technique it can get confusing, e.g. when recalling an equation "was the X animal there once or twice". Nevertheless, I like the idea...

But I would also look forward to Steve presenting the mnemonic devices he used in his college years.

Yeah me too. Also to anyone else who studies math/physics or any other subjects where equations have to be learned, I am interested to hear your methods. I agree with the OP that this subject is lacking in the memory-technique literature ...I have read books by Lorayne, Dominic O'Brien, and others, and this type of stuff isn't given much if any discussion...

[Joel Chue]

In his articles, "Do IT Now" and "Top 10 Tips",

Steve mentioned about memorizing a formula at that moment. I am an engineer student, and I tend to bogged down by the # of formulas I need to learn daily.

My university is not very opened to the idea of a cheat sheet during exams.
And since Steve did computing back then, I'm sure he needs to memorize lots of physics and mathematics formulas.

Hence, I'm curious how he managed to memorize that # of formulas so quickly. I know training attributes to such a performance but I'm sure Steve must have a strategy to do so. I hope Steve be happy to share about it.

Thanks

[Joel Chue]

This thread is dying.
And I'm still puzzled with all that advanced memory strategies!

Any takerS?

[Andrew Brunelle]

One of the methods is chaining. It's where you take a list and combine the first two items together into some visual imagery (a tree-car), then the second and third items (a car-dog), and so on down the list, so that you have a series of pictures to guide yourself down the list. Also a mnemonic device is another key memory aid, PEMDAS or please excuse my dear aunt sally for the order of operations, things like that. Also, writing on your hand is a valid memory tool and should be allowed on tests.

[Joel Chue]

Thanks for the follow up Andrew Brunelle.

I understand chaining and pegging and have applied
it into daily tasks.

The tricky part is to apply these techniques in
school, especially university when the materials
that require remembering aren't that simple
and straightforward.

Take Math and Physics formulas for example.
These 'Advanced memory techniques' doesn't
seem to work.

[00melo00]

I did this too for a while but got discouraged because there wasn't any good practical solution for math and those kinds of schoolsubjects.

So Steve are you going to tell it or should I just contact you trough email

[smallstar]

Cheers,

I, being an aural learner, can memorize formulae or number sequences by using rhythm or pitch changes when repeating these in my mind. I would find, for example, these cats and bears totally unsuitable for my purposes. Find the learning style you are the most comfortable with, and use techniques accordingly.

(The most commonly accepted division between learning styles: visual = sight (~60%), aural = sound (~30%), and haptial = touch (~10%))

[Lychee]

I think Steve also recommended The Memory Book on his website.

[and]

One product that worked for me and I thought was highly practical is an old product by Nightingale Conant called Megamemory.

On ebay:eBay: Kevin Trudeau's MegaMemory 8 cassettes, workbook VG (item 150071024331 end time Feb-11-07 07:59:35 PST)

[WanderingOak]

The Mentat Wiki has overiviews of several memory techniques.

[Hugh Hollowell]

I may be a bit weird, but rather than use body pegs (which are, by definition, finite), I tend to make houses or palaces (ala Mateo Ricci) where i keep like items. Thus, there is the Spanish palace (where I learned the Spanish language, just full of nouns), the hall of American history, and so on.

If you have pegging and linking down, you can peg to any item in the room, then create chains or links from that. The only problem (and one I personally enjoy) is building new rooms fast enough.

[00melo00]

Thats a cool creative way.

By the way I have a hard time to do pegging and stuff. Because it's way harder in the dutch language to find tangible words on every letter than the english language.

Like I can't remember an animal which starts with a C in dutch. You obviously have Cat. And it's maybe 5 times as easy to do it in English (yea I tried them both).

But the thing is, won't I get confused when I will do this in English if my thoughts are 95% dutch? I don't dare to try it because I don't want to waste my time and rather do something that I know that is productive.

[Brutha]

But the thing is, won't I get confused when I will do this in English if my thoughts are 95% dutch? I don't dare to try it because I don't want to waste my time and rather do something that I know that is productive.

You aren't doing it in English. You should be doing it in pictures.
You can take anything as a pet. As long as you recognise it. It may need a bit more training to get used to but it work as well.

In addition even if you don't use succed with the technique it is great training for your brain, so the time isn't wasted.

The Mentat Wiki has overiviews of several memory techniques.

But their are no techniques in it for formulas.

[magi13]

When mnemonics and memory aids fails. Practice and solve problems. Focus on it. This is not the easiest of ways but it is effective.

[Hyperchiller]

Memorizing formulae is very pointless in my opinion. It's better to understand them. That way you can remember it much better if you decide to memorize them.

[magi13]

Please post a sample formula and we'll try some mnemonics on it. ^^

sometimes people just don't try, then again if it doesn't apply let's see our next option. ^^

[Brutha]

Please post a sample formula and we'll try some mnemonics on it. ^^

In LaTeX markup: E(X)=\sum\limits_{k=0}^\infty k e^{\lambda} \lambda^k /(k!)

[magi13]

Originally Posted by Brutha

In LaTeX markup: E(X)=\sum\limits_{k=0}^\infty k e^{\lambda} \lambda^k /(k!)

Now I see why they may have trouble.

all that comes out in my mind is that you can memorize this by repetition. Just read the first four words then cover it say it out loud then add read from the start but add another four lines and say the 8 words out loud w/o looking at it, till you memorize the whole equation.

or make silly words to remind you of the following

Late mark =latex markup
ex girlfriend = E(X)
Summer Li =sum limits
Keo = {k=0}
raised in = ^\infy
key raised= ke^
lamb = {\lambda}
lamb = \lambda
raised kay = ^k
slashed kay = \k!

To remind you of the following equation. My second example will work as a reminder of the equation. To add the symbols just visualize the picture images with () or with / or with {} or =.

^,^ story, Late mark made up with his ex girlfriend summer li. Keo Raised in key who raised a lamb. Lamb raised kay but slashed her later.

Ok it's kind of stupid but it's memorable haha. P.s. I'm sure this will be easier to remember if you understand the formula more.

Latex

here's a link for Latex basics.

[romanianmnemonist]

Here's how I would do it. The best way to memorize is via combinations of visual images. Mathematics is not very visual so you need some figurative codes, permanent designated images that represent numbers, reocuring simbols etc. If you have this in place you can designate an abstract image for what the formula represents (ex: 'dinamite' for electrical charge) and than you do something simmilar to the chain method, you connect the figurative codes unto selected parts of that image (zoom in and connect) . You should try not to sellect more than 5 subimages though, 7 images maximum. To counteract that problem you will for example memorize simmilar formulas on related Loci images (selected image parts of Loci images, image blocks etc). What yu do is attach the association bases(like the dinamite image) to these Loci. In this way you don't need to memorize the parts of the formula that repeat themselves, you just memorize the new ellements, and you will remember the reocuring ellements, like the begining of the formula, because they are all in the same cathegory.

If you have a sistem aof figurative codes for numbers already the rest should be simple. Good luck.

If you want to read more: http://www.pmemory.com/improve_memory-adr.php