Memorising Equations

General Memory Chat
1

In short, I have to learn lots of functions/equations for economics (more abstract than you would think, as it seems to me like applied maths) over the next 3/4 years and am looking to make a system to remember them by. Could I please get some feedback on this system before I try to pursue it further?

I have been looking through extensively through this forum for a system that could be used for equations. Having weighed up a few of the ones I’ve seen, I thought it better to use a system that I can spend some time memorising and then be able to use quickly to instead of having to conjure up extravagant images and stories everytime I come across new laws and equations in this format

The idea I had in mind was associating each letter with a POA* 3 times over - for regular text, superset and subset**. Then again for the greek letters and relevant symbols. Then create a image/story with these and memorising them using the usual methods of loci.

I’m not concerned about memorising each image possible (you would only due this for speed memory, am I right? Sorry, newbie here..) only the initial image for each character

Has anyone either made, tried or heard of a system like this (or a more refined one).

p.s. I’ve read about some of Dominic O’Brien’s systems, but I think for quantity needed here it would be better to have a complete system?

*Or other similar system depending on ease.

**Alternatively I thought of making a hotkey type thing, so ^ (for superset) could be represented by a POA and then until I use the return to regular text image. And likewise for subset.

2

I haven’t memorized equations, so I’m not sure what the best solution is.

Have you seen the post about physics equations yet?

3

I have thanks, that was one of the ones that I looked at before. It is helpful, but doesn’t really give information on memorising precise ordering, he/she just seems to have that down through remembering them spelled out on the walls etc. still in their abstract form, not in a memorable image:

As you can tell, I'm not breaking each variable into a specific word or thing. Rather, I'm simply able to link the whole equation on an object.
4

Yes. This is a good point. In his case the memory palace aids him to recall the eq-s in order. Reaching an object, he gets a glimpse of the eq he has placed there. But how is that glimpse enough to recall all of the eq?

Consider these points:

  1. If we repeat sth many times, recalling it becomes easier, be that with or wihtout mnemonics.
  2. Equation can be divided into smaller parts.
  3. Equation isn't random.
    • It is derived from another eq-s.
    • It is logical. If you magnify/reduce the input of a variable, the outcome is magnified/reduced in logical rate. Your gut feeling tells that it was P=U*I, not P=U/I.

So, using these points in your advantage you can recall any equation without the help of mnemonics.

I made some big updates to my previous complete tutorial for memorizing equations and definitions, so if you’re interested then that might give you some ideas.

5

Some equations have direct meaning to me, like Ohm’s law I have remembered since primary school: I=V/R. It was easy for me to remember it directly, because “obviously” the greater voltage, the greater current, and the greater resistance, the lower current. But, the simple derivation R=V/I - I remember it mnemotechnically, because V is visually bigger than I, so V can be divided by I, but not vice versa :slight_smile: Remembering it saved me from executing one extra step from I=V/R to R=V/I.