Pi is the constant between the circumference and the diameter (twice the radius) of a circle. Calculating Pi is a common way of evaluating the power of a supercomputer, and today mathematicians know about 10 trillion of its digits. People who hold world records can recite thousands of digits, and neurosurgeon and professor Andriy Slyusarchuk claims to have memorized 30 million; enunciating them non-stop would take 347 days. Impressive!
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Grouping Digits
Step 1. Make an outline
Write Pi with the number of digits you want to memorize. After doing so, group the decimals in even numbers by drawing parentheses around them.
It begins with groups of four digits each: (3, 141) (5926) (5358) (9793) (2384) (6264) (3383), etc
Step 2. Start small
The easiest way to memorize anything is to start in small groups and build them up. As with weightlifting and running, you'll have sets and reps, and you don't want to overload yourself by forcing 100 digits into your head at the same time.
Start by memorizing four groups of four digits each. You can increase them until you reach ten groups of four digits. Memorize them one by one and slowly. Then double your sentences to five groups of eight digits each. The number of digits will be exactly the same, but you can increase what you memorize by adding larger "sets"
Step 3. Memorize the first occurrence of each number from 0 to 9
This can help you remember which digit is next when reciting pi. For example, you can remember that the first digit after the decimal is 1, and that the 32nd after the decimal is the first 0.
Step 4. Try to group the numbers into telephone sequences
Most memorization techniques or "mnemonics" work on the principle that it is easier to memorize other things, such as phone numbers, than a complex series of digits. If you can group Pi into sets of ten numbers, you can organize them into telephone sequences that are easier to remember: Aaron (314) 159-2653, Beth (589) 793-2384, Carlos (626) 433-8327, etc.
Giving them names in alphabetical order will ensure that when you have memorized the first 260 digits, you can start over and finish a complete "phone book"
Step 5. Add details to coordinate the list
This is how experts can not only memorize the digits in order, but extract specific groups of numbers at will. Use names with the number of letters that correspond to the first digit of the sequence: Amy (314) 159-2653.
- Also, try to use real names and associate real things with the name on the list or even make up situations about each person. The more you link numbers to the list of names, the easier it will be to remember them.
- You can also combine this technique with the larger system and association techniques that will be discussed later.
Step 6. Record your groups on index cards
Take them with you in your daily walk, and practice the numbers. When you can comfortably list all of your groups, keep adding one more until you reach your goal.
Method 2 of 2: Using word and sound substitutions
Step 1. Write sentences in "Thai"
This is a language in which the number of letters in each word represents one digit of Pi. For example, "Rum and walnut and raisins saved have no flavor" is equivalent to 314159265 in Thai. In 1996, Mike Keith wrote a short story called "Cadaeic Cadenza" in which he encoded 3800 digits of Pi. In addition, he created a method to use words with more than 10 letters to represent sequences of numbers.
Step 2. Write poems in Thai
A piema is a poem that encodes Pi with its words, using the Phai method. They are usually rhymed to aid memorization and have three-letter titles that represent the number 3 that Pi begins with.
An example of piema: I am and will be definable to all, I have to give you my name, always immeasurable diametrical quotient, I am one of the round rings
Step 3. Create rhymes to memorize
Over the years, many college mnemonics have been developed to memorize the first digits of Pi: Cosine, secant, tangent, sine / Three point one four one five nine. This mnemonic uses rhythm and pattern to remember memorized numbers.
- Many other memorization songs use the same technique: "If the numbers had a sky, their God would be sure, 3, 14159, 26535."
- The melody of the alphabet or "Baa Baa, black sheep" or "Estrellita, where are you?": 3 1 4 1 5 9 2/6 5 3 5 8 9/7 9 3 2 3 8 4/6 2 6 4 3 3 8/3 2 7 9 5 0 2/8 8 4 1 9 7 1.
- Try writing your own song or rhyme to help you remember.
Step 4. Try to learn the major system
Some of the best mnemonics in the world use derivatives of this system. This extraordinarily complex technique consists of replacing each digit or group of digits with a corresponding word that is phonetically similar and, at the end, creating a story or series of associations with them.
Advice
- Memorize the numbers in blocks instead of one by one.
- Go over the numbers in your mind before bed or in the self help.
- Write them down on a small card and when you find yourself sitting doing nothing, take it out and memorize some more.
- Pick a song you know and put the digits of Pi in the beat.