If the practitioner only mastered numbers 0-100, it is possible to multiply the entire list by factors of 10 without having to memorise or fix the list of words that corresponds to each number. The approach takes the current image that the number represents and adds the following dimensions:
1. Location 2. Colour 3. Action 4. Sound 5. Smell 6. Texture 7. Emotion 8. Shape
Below is a demonstration on how to apply the first 3 dimensions to expand the list, continuing for the other dimensions is straightforward but is excluded for the following reasons:
a. Extending the list by adding dimensions makes the image much more complex and thus more difficult to memorise.
b. The more dimensions used, the more time it takes to build each image.
c . The added effort, difficulty and time can hinder overall performance.
d . Going past the first 3 dimensions requires accessing modalities that are not pictorial and are more difficult to keep fixed in mind for the purposes of memorising using systems. It is a possibility but requires persistent training in combination with the concentration exercises, introduced earlier, that train these modalities.
Adding 3 dimensions
The first 3 extra dimensions will be added using the following formula:
VWXYZ
a. VW- Are the numbers we already know from 00-99.
b. X- This dimension is represented by location.
c. Y- This dimension is represented by colour.
d. Z- This dimension is represented by action.
Examples
Say we wanted to memorise the number 33,980; we could split it into 3 parts: “3”, “39” and “80” and memorise by linking them together since we already know the numbers from 0-100. The technique presented above allow us to capture this number with just one image instead of three, it is equivalent (in result but not in effort) to having a fixed list for all numbers from 0-99999. The procedure
to building this image is as follows:
1. Begin with 33, the picture that represents this number is that of a mummy.
2 . The next number is 9; the dimension corresponds to a location so this 9 determines that the image is taken on a football pitch.
3. The next number is 8; the dimension corresponds to colour, which is brown for number 8, so the mummy’s colour is dark brown and is on a football field.
4. The last number is 0; the dimension corresponds to action, in the case of 0 this is parachuting, so the dark brown mummy is parachuting onto a football field.
To complete the example, assume that this number represents an internal extension at the office, this could easily be memorised by linking the person to the number. For example, say the person’s surname was Jones- then all that is required is to link Jones to the picture we created for the number. An example link could be to think of a football field that is covered with lots of Indiana Joneses (instead of the usual green grass), and these Joneses are screaming out of fear as this gigantic dark brown mummy is landing on top of them crushing them.
Try the following number: 28,762, what picture would this number generate? [Pause to try and then read on]
A green Knife freezing his blade off on the top of a mountain; Say this was the extension for your boss, you may wish to picture your boss climbing a mountain and just as he lifts his head to view the peak he locks eyes with a menacing gigantic green knife that is shaking the frost off his blade- at that time you hear a loud scream of utter fear emanating from deep inside your boss’ lungs.
Please note that the example above is not meant to be cruel nor to encourage challenging authority; it is simply there to demonstrate that the possibilities of your imagination are infinite and you should not be bounded by the same rules that govern your everyday behaviour- instead set your imagination free and let fantasy take over- the more extreme the better the link and thus the stronger the memory.
Other approaches
Extending dimension by 2: VWXY- VW as before whilst X is colour and Y is action
Extending dimension by 4: VWXYZA- VW as before whilst X is colour, Y is action, Z is smell and A is texture.
The permutation one chooses depends on which modalities provide the best results- this differs across people and so remains a personal choice. The key is to settle on an approach and apply it consistently thereafter- this is the key: without consistency, confusion will quickly set in and spoil the efforts made.
Needless to say that, in order to apply this method, the table representing the modalities that each number represents needs to be memorised and familiar.
Using this approach can take a while to master but is extremely useful as we will demonstrate in later sections with further application.
The reader should note that for a practitioner that has memorised words for each of the first 0-9,999 numbers, this method allows the possibility of stretching one image to contain a number with 7 digits (if extending to 3 dimensions) - in some countries this would correspond to a phone number: it is extremely impressive to convert a large chunk of numerical data (such as a phone number) to a single image. If the practitioner wanted to beat the current record for Pi he would only have to create 11,919 images whilst with a base of 10,000 numbers he would need 20,858. Even better, extending the list with 8 dimensions would mean only 6,953 images are needed.