Jan 19, 20215 min read

Kwik Learning Memory Class 6: Remembering Numbers and Dates

Updated: Feb 28, 2021

How to remember numbers using the alphanumeric code.

Context:

I’m currently taking the Recall Masterclass from Kwik Learning right now, and as part of the homework, I am to teach what I learned each class to other people. The class is taught by Jim Kwik, a renowned brain coach. Since I’m a blogger, I’d like to share my notes with all of you. I hope you can use the knowledge and practice the methods to improve your memory as well.

Class 6: Remembering Numbers

Source: Unsplash

We live in a world of numbers. Numbers is the international language. Maybe you need to remember numbers for your work, such as in finance. Or maybe you just want to better remember pin numbers, phone numbers, and addresses. This lesson will teach you an ancient alphanumeric code to help you remember long strings of numbers quickly and easily.

This lesson will talk about

The alphanumeric code
Using the alphanumeric code

The Alphanumeric Code

Numbers are abstract and therefore hard to remember. If we want to make them easier to remember, we have to turn them into images. The alphanumeric code is a basically a language system for translating numbers into sounds, letters, and words. From there, we can create images for numbers and stories to link numbers.

Here is the alphanumeric code that Jim taught in this lesson:

1 = Ta, Da, Tha

2 = Na

3 = Ma

4 = Ra

5 = La

6 = Sha, Cha, Ja

7 = Ka, Ca, Ga

8 = Fa, Va

9 = Pa, Ba

0 = Sa, Za, Xa

You have to know this code to memorize numbers really fast. It takes some heavy effort upfront, but once you know it, it’s extremely useful. Here’s some tips to help remember the code:

1 is T: T is made up of two 1s. The tongue movement when we say “Ta” is the same as “Da”.
2 is N: If you look at 2 sideways, it looks like N
3 is M: If you look at 3 sideways, it looks like M
4 is R: If you flip 4, it looks kind of looks like R
5 is L: If you hold out 5 fingers, there’s an L between your thumb and index finger
6 is J or Sh or Ch: If you flip 6, it kind of looks like J. “Sh” and “Ch” have the same mouth movement as “J”
7 is K or C or G: K looks like it’s made up of two 7s. “Cuh” and “Guh” have the same mouth movement as “Kuh”
8 is F or V: 8 looks like a cursive F. “F” and “V” have the same mouth movement.
9 is P or B: 9 looks like a flipped P. “Puh” and “Buh” have the same mouth movement.
0 is Z or S or X: Zero starts with Z. “S” and “X” have the same mouth movement as “Z”

This alphanumeric code has four rules:

Silent letters have to value
Double letters have single value
W H and Y have no value
Vowels have no values

Using this code, we can do some examples of converting words into numbers.

Cat. C = 7. A = No value. T = 1. Therefore cat = 71.
Dog = 17
Table = 195
Butter = 914
Carpet = 7491

We can also convert numbers into words.

Example: 71 is G and T. So we can use words such as goth, god, cat, cod, good, get, goat, coat. Which one should you choose? Choose the one that is easiest for you to remember.
Another example: 72 is G and N. We can use words such as ken, can, cone, gun, gain, gone, cane, cone, goon.

Another way to remember this alphanumeric code is to use the body list we learned in Class 4.

1 = Top = T
2 = Nose = N
3 = Mouth = M
4 = Ear = R
5 = Larynx = L
6 = Shoulders = Sh, Ch, J
7 = Clavicle = C, K, G
8 = Fingers = F, V
9 = Belly = B, P
0 = Seat = S, X, Z

Using the Alphanumeric Code

Example 1: Phone Number

Let’s say someone tells you their phone number and you want to remember it quickly. The phone number is 914 127 7491.

How can you remember it? We can turn the series of numbers into pictures.

B T R – butter

T N K – tank

C R P T – carpet

You can imagine butter in a tank, and the tank shoots the butter onto a carpet. When we hear numbers, we can use the alphanumeric code to turn them into pictures and a story. That exercise puts the number from short-term memory and encodes it into longer term memory.

Example 2: Date

Let’s say you need to memorize the date that Neil Armstrong landed on the moon for a test. The date is July 20, 1969. We can turn the date into a series of digits: 7 20 1969.

720 = CANS

19= TUB

69 = JEEP

You can imagine cans in a tub being pulled by a jeep that Neil Armstrong is driving.

Example 3: Long series of digits

Let’s say you want to remember Pi. We’ll just do the first eight digits: 3.1415926.

3.14 = M T R = Meteor
15 = D L = Doll
926 = P N CH = Punch

A meteor approaches a doll, and the doll punches the meteor. That story is much easier to remember than the string of digits. With practice, you can instantly associate a number with a picture, just like the Sun List from Lesson 1.

Homework

Create a alphanumeric peg list from 1 to 100. Jim gave examples for the first 10:

Tie
Noah
Ma
Rye or Ear
Law or Eel
Shoe
Key
Ivy
Bee
Toes

Each day, do 10 more digits. When you create your own list, it’s easier for you to remember. Do it up to 99.

Then practice having people give you a series of numbers, and use your alphanumeric peg list to memorize the series of numbers.

How I Used This Lesson

I don't really have a need to memorize long strings of numbers currently, so I used this alphanumeric code to remember the birthdays of multiple friends:

January 24 = 124 =T N R. I use TIN EARS. I imagine that friend with shinny Tin Ears.
November 09 = 1109 = T D S P. I use TOAD SOAP. I imagine that person washing a toad with soap.
October 28 = 1028 = T S N F = TOES KNIFE. I imagine the person has 5 knives instead of toes on each foot.
July 23 = 723 = C N M = COW NOM. I imagine with a cow head noming (chewing) on grass.

Homework Update

Over the last two weeks, I took up the challenge to make an alphanumeric peg list from 1 to 100. Here is my alphanumeric peg list:

At first, I memorized all the items using the chain-linking story method from Class 4, but if you throw a random number at me, it takes me a while to remember the word. Then I created a flashcard deck on Anki to rote memorize these 100 pegs. I spent about 5-10 minutes a day doing 100 flashcard reviews, and after two weeks I'm good to go.

Recently, I had someone give me a list of 20 numbers, and I was able to repeat that list back in order with 100% accuracy. While repeating a list of numbers isn't a common task in life, the important skill is being able to remember a number or series of number if I ever want to.