Using the Number System to Improve Your Memory

Our world is made up of numbers such as phone numbers, birthdays, street numbers, area codes, license numbers etc. However, if there isn’t any help, then these numbers become very difficult to remember because they are tough to associate. The brain is trained to process information visually and not numerically. You would find it simpler to imagine a monkey eating a banana, than picture the third digit of the equivalent of the pi. Then again, did you know it was possible to convert a number into words, or even phrases that represent a mental image?

It is actually possible to allocate the numbers 0 to 9 for a consonant letter. When we need to recall number digits, we first convert the digits to letters, add proper vowels and convert it into words. If necessary, these words can be further converted to phrases. The words/phrases can help you form associations easier than trying to remember the digits.

To make it simpler, let us take an example. Say you want to remember that the Bible consists of 39 books. If you convert 3 and 9 into M and P, then insert a vowel such as A between the two consonants to create a word MAP. Then you can create an image of ta big MAP such as Egypt, Israel etc. Later, when you need to remember the number of books in the Old Testament, you can remember the image of the MAP, remove the vowel A and then translate the remaining consonants in to numbers which is 3 and 9 – 39. Now you have remembered it successfully. This technique works because of image mapping.

What makes you know that M is denoted by 3 and P by 9? Maybe, it will be simple if you memorize the below table of consonants and digits. Once this sticks in your mind, it will help you.

Digit Vowel Mnemonic
0 Z Zero starts with Z
1 T, D T has a single down stroke
2 N N has two down strokes
3 M M has three down strokes
4 R “four” ends in letter R
5 L Roman Numeral for 50 is L
6 J,SH,CH Turned J looks 6
7 K,G (harsh) View K as combined 7
8 F,V Cursive small F has two loops that looks like 8
9 P,B Reversed P is similar to 9

This technique is very popular and used by many experts that use mnemonics. This technique has been maximized so that it will be simple to learn and utilize. Also, note that the paired letters have been placed together in the group as they are phonetically similar.

Below I have mentioned some tips on using the system:

• This system is generally phonetic. For example, term cough should be envisaged as KoF and translate into 7 and 8 or 78. If you want to convert GEM, it should be JEM, for 6 and 3.

• Doubled letters are not accounted. As an example, Batter translates into B, T, and R. the extra T is not taken into account.

• When you want to create words from consonants, clear nouns usually work effectively, rather than passive verbs.