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Memorizing Pi is So Easy, These Kids Can Do It

Want to impress your (nerdy) friends by knowing the number pi to the hundredth decimal? Well, you're in luck. No superhuman memorization ability is required for reciting huge chunks of pi.

Want to impress your (nerdy) friends by knowing the number pi to the hundredth decimal? Well, you’re in luck. No superhuman memorization ability is required for reciting huge chunks of pi. Some pi memorizers claim to use a technique in which they convert chunks of numbers into words or images in their brain, stringing them together to form stories which are easier to decode and recite. Chao Lu, the Chinese man who holds the record for pi recitation put together a story of numbers that took him over 24 hours to recite. He explained his method to researchers, as reported by Science News: “Chao Lu described generating mental images for number pairs from 00 to 99, such as classroom for 94 and stones for 17. From these cues he created stories. For lists of 15 to 75 numbers, Chao Lu reported constructing five-image stories.” Simpler memorization techniques include stringing together sentences made up of words whose letters correspond with numbers. A well known example to help remember the first digits of pi: How I want a drink, alcoholic of course, after the heavy lectures involving quantum mechanics! 3.14159265358979.

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Spatial association is also an effective mnemonic. Being able to place items for retention in your “Memory Mansion” might help you recall facts by visualizing where you put them exactly, like closing your eyes and finding your keys. It’s actually fairly simple if you have the time. Seriously. These kids have it figured out:

This six-year old is dominating the pi recitation game.

Wait, now we’re up to 500 digits. Holy cow. This is incredible.

Or maybe it isn’t. 2522 digits? How long did this take? This kid is a pi cyborg.

Okay, now we’ve got a two-year old in the mix. Is this even good parenting?

More importantly, are you going to complain about not knowing pi when even two-year old kids are memorizing it?