I Learned Mental Math In 40 Hours

Watch me put research-based learning principles to the test as I learn mental arithmetic. I use testing, lots of relevant, deliberate practice with feedback, spaced practice, interleaving, and review to learn to become as good at mental math as I can in 40 hours.

0:00 An introduction
0:20 The plan
1:08 How I apply the science of learning
3:29 My first diagnostic test
4:20 Reflections after ten hours
5:06 I'm noticing patterns
6:23 How to use practice tests to learn
8:47 Ten hour mark test
9:17 Next steps

REFERENCES:

[sciencenephilim]

Combining your videos, Justin Sung's videos, Andrew Huberman's podcasts, and my own neuroscience and psychology knowledge of learning has helped me incredibly refine my own learning system, learning knowledge, and it's absolutely amazing. Thank you for doing what you do.

I hope some day you gain a massive reach. You are absolutely a hidden gem.

[LeoNux-umtg]

Mental math with inattentive adhd is just too difficult, I can calculate them as fast af on paper but once I only hear the number, they just dance in my head.

[uros]

Great project! You should do something similar for a factual and conceptual knowledge based subject as well.

[jeffw]

I've been doing mental calculations since I first learned the addition tables, so it's been about 50 years. I can tell you that there's a HUGE difference between mentally working a problem that you can see on paper, and working a problem that you only hear but never see. The latter is far more difficult, and that's what I specialize in.
Long-term and short-term memory are both important, and there is no sharp division between them. I choose problems that take days, or sometimes weeks, to work, such as non-integer square roots up to forty digits or so. Not only do I have to calculate the correct answer, but I have to check it for accuracy without using a calculator.
As the years have passed, I find it easier to pick up on such problems exactly where I left off, even if hours or days have passed. When I was younger, I would generally have to start over at the beginning of the problem, though the parts I had already worked went quicker the second time because I recognized the work. It seems that my short-term memory and long-term memory have improved greatly, even as I passed age 30, where memory is supposed to begin a decline.
My memory is already supposed to be declining in my late 50s, but I've seen no evidence of that yet and in fact I continue to improve. I imagine that my calculating ability will level off and then decrease sometime soon.

[patricktumaliuan]

Using your content I've devised a sort of learning system for me to follow when learning new material in university. IT is divided into 3 categories (Pre-lecture, Lecture and post Lecture)

Pre Lecture


- Preview lecture
- Identify Main ideas
- Identify gaps in understanding
- create notes
- Create Goal for class
- Specific and measurable goals for class. (Identify core concepts, Learn Core Concepts, Answer gaps in understanding)

Lecture
- Active Learning
- Identify core concepts
- Elaboration - Connect what you are learning with previous knowledge
- come up with analogies
- In own words periodically summarize lecture
- ask questions


Post Lecture
- Active Recall
- Creation/Analysis/Evaluating (Engage in Higher order thinking)
- Feynman technique
- **Mind map from memory/Free Recall - explain relationships of ideas**
- Practice Questions (if available)
- creation questions based on notes
- Desirable Difficulties
- **Spaced Repetition**
- Interleaving
- Variation
Basically my question is this type of system missing anything? I've always wondered if adding more techniques would be chasing for marginal returns. Have you found an "endgame" system for yourself? If so that would be my video suggestion.

[mintee]

For learning multiple digits, the issue seems to be memorize vs. calculate.

For calculate, it is memory capacity (hold onto numbers for longer) or faster calculations.

[shalev]

Yess please do a similar video on conceptual knowledge (science). These really help to put the learning science into perspective so it's easier to implement them

[LunarOverdrive]

Very inspiring as someone who somehow manages to struggle with basic arithmetic.

[derpydayha]

Woah, my family bought that video course by Arthur t Benjamin when I was back in elementary and I loved it! What a throwback to a cool time

[juancito]

Awesome video Ben! I can't wait for the next update. I've been thinking about learning mental math for a quite a while now, but never got to it, so this video came perfect! Love your videos, they've helped me so much. Greetings from Argentina

[alikarim]

I responded to your answer in the last video. I am waiting for your response and don't worry take your time. Underrated channel.

[aincrad]

Bro i love this channel. Love this new form of content.

[az_t]

Good job, this is what i was looking for, i wanted to see an application and a practice for the abstract ideas you explain in your videos, thank to you now i can see whether i'm doing well or not applying those theories about learning

[brianchavez]

Excellent content!!. I would like you to talk about reading techniques to understand and retain more information.

[shadowpapito]

Thanks for the resources and great content!

[BlaBlaBlaInDaHouse]

Fantastic video! Shake you for sharing your experience

[LC-rlcd]

I'm going to be a law student soon. I've searched all over and other influencers for best law school learning techniques. There's not much out there. Other than the IRAC method to understanding cases, and as a JD yourself, what can you recommend and would you please do videos on law school studying? Please and thanks!

[harrypewpew]

I didnt understand what he was trying to say with contextual variation so here is what help me understand it: "Contextual variation is when learners are exposed to the same concept in two different contexts. When building in contextual variation the concept remains the same but the context is changed, making the original concept more salient to the learner."

[bananagod]

This is so helpful, thanks for sharing! :)

[GlatHjerne]

I can't seem to find the next video... :(