Arthur Benjamin the methamagician

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SUMMARY

Arthur Benjamin, known as the "methamagician," showcased his extraordinary ability to multiply three-digit numbers rapidly during a Comedy Central appearance. His TED Talk, available at this link, highlights his unique technique of replacing numbers with words to enhance memorization. Despite a minor error in calculating the square of 722, his performance remains impressive and demonstrates a blend of mathematical skill and entertainment.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic arithmetic operations
  • Familiarity with mnemonic techniques for memory enhancement
  • Knowledge of mathematical concepts related to multiplication and squaring
  • Awareness of performance art in mathematics
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore advanced mnemonic techniques for memorizing numbers
  • Research mathematical performance art and its impact on education
  • Learn about mental math strategies for rapid calculations
  • Watch additional TED Talks on mathematics and cognitive skills
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for educators, students interested in mathematics, performers in educational settings, and anyone looking to enhance their mental calculation skills.

cronxeh
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Ok I'll confess, I've seen this guy on the Comedy Central.. either Colbert nation or daily show-cant remember-does not matter. But he got me thinking, he was multiplying 3 digit numbers without even waiting for Jon to finish..

A little more digging uncovered this awesomeness:
http://www.ted.com/talks/arthur_benjamin_does_mathemagic.html

This guy is awesome. On par with a statement a la "To the last, I grapple with thee; from hell's heart, I stab at thee; for hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee." He looks like the devil of sexiness. The prince of darkness of algebra. Anyone know what his deal is? He is not a savant, which brings me to another conjecture.. perhaps savants are not that smart either?
 
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He kinda explained how he did it at the end; replacing numbers with words which is easier to remember.
He did get one wrong though, someone gave him 722 to square and he said it's a harder one and said 513,284. The lady on stage verified it as correct, but it's not. It's 521,284.
 
Even with his explanation on the last one that was still amazing. It probably would have taken me that entire episode to figure out the last one. :smile:
 

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