Binary Number Memorization Systems

Memorizing binary data (e.g., 01110100010100100100...) is even easier than memorizing

decimal numbers, because a larger number of digits can be encoded in a single locus.
These techniques work on any type of binary data, including zeros and ones or the order
of black and red in a deck of cards.

Contents
1 Quick Binary Memorization Systems
1.1 The 8-Letter Method
1.2 Gary Lanier's Binary Method
2 Complex Binary Memorization Systems
2.1 Number Conversion Systems
2.1.1 Examples
2.2 Binary Grids
2.2.1 Pros & Cons
2.3 Ben System
3 Comparison of Efficiency

Quick Binary Memorization Systems

These methods are very easy to learn, but probably aren't the most efficient for memory
competitions. If you want to memorize binary numbers for memory competitions, see the
section below on Complex Binary Memorization Systems.

The 8-Letter Method

There are eight possible combinations of three binary digits:

000 = None = N

111 = All = A

001 = Bottom = B

100 = Top = T

011 = Lower = L

110 = Upper = U

101 = Outer = O

010 = Middle = M

110-101 becomes U and O. Make a mnemonic image with the letters U and O, for
example, "umbrella" and "opossum". Place those images in the first location in your
Memory Palace, and then move on to the next six digits.
See this blog post for a full tutorial: Learn How to Memorize the Order of Black & Red

in a Deck of Playing Cards (Easy)

Gary Lanier's Binary Method

This is an interesting system that was mentioned in Gary Lanier's memory journal in a
post titled, Binary Numbers You Can See. In this system, mnemonic images are created
from the shapes of the binary numbers:

000 = the Three Stooges

001 = glasses staring at a wall

011 = bowling ball, 2-pin split

111 = three fence posts

110 = a bull's two horns goring a matador's face

100 = putter, golf ball, cup

010 = a canon with a wheel on each side

101 = a soccer ball making a goal

See also Number Shape System.

Complex Binary Memorization Systems

Number Conversion Systems
If you use a mnemonic system for decimal numbers like the Major System, Dominic
System, or even Number Shape System or Number Rhyme System, you can convert the
binary numbers to decimal like this:

000 = 0

001 = 1

010 = 2

011 = 3

100 = 4

101 = 5

110 = 6

111 = 7

It is highly recommended that you learn the correct way to count in binary. If you aren't
familiar with it, check out this page.
Examples
If you have a one-digit system like the Number Shape System and your mnemonic image
for 4 is a flag, then the binary number 100 would be represented by a flag.
If you have a two-digit system like the Major System or Dominic System, and the
mnemonic image for 45 is a werewolf, then the binary number 100-101 would be

represented by a werewolf. If you are placing two images per locus in memory palaces,
you can encode 12 binary digits per locus. If you are placing three images per locus, like
in a PAO system, you can encode 18 binary digits per locus.
If you have a three-digit system, you could encode nine binary digits in a single image,
and between 18 and 27 binary digits per locus.

Binary Grids
If binary numbers are combined into 3x3 grids of nine digits each, it only requires 512
images. The grids can be read from top to bottom, converting each row into a decimal
digit.
For example, the following grid could use the same mnemonic image as 065, if you have
a three-digit decimal number memorization system:
000
110
101

The reason for 065 is because:

000 in binary is 0 in decimal

110 in binary is 6 in decimal

101 in binary is 5 in decimal

Practice grids can be found here and here. See also the binary training forum thread.
There are also some image files of all 512 binary grids available.Pros & Cons
The advantage to binary grids over something like the PAO system is that your images
will exactly fit the 30 columns in a competition row. I.e., 30 digit rows divided by 3 digits
width per image is 10 images per row. In contrast, a 2-digit PAO system that encodes 18
binary digits per PAO set will have PAO sets that overlap the lines. The binary grid
system will however only use 24 out of the 25 rows on a competition sheet (8 x 3). You
can skip the last row, or use a different system on it.
The potential to miss 90 points for missing one image is one disadvantage to this system.
This occurs because you take numbers from 3 rows for one image.
The differences in efficiency between this and the Ben System are that the grids only
encode nine digits per image while the Ben System encodes 10. The grids require 512
images and the Ben System requires 1,024.

Ben System
The Ben System can encode 30 binary digits per locus, which is the exact number of
digits in a row of binary numbers at memory competitions. The Ben System for binary
numbers requires 1,024 mnemonic images and is significantly more complex than the
simpler methods above. The technique is listed in the binary numbers section of the Ben
System wiki page.

Comparison of Efficiency
For people who are interested in competition memorization, here is a table that compares
the efficiency of different binary number memorization systems. The columns are the

type of system, the rows are the number of images per location in a memory palace, and
the table cells contain the number of binary digits that can be stored at each locus. For
example, if you use a 2-digit Major System and place three images per locus (e.g., PAO),
you can encode 18 binary digits per locus.
Lanier
System

3x3
Grids

1-digit system 2-digit system 3-digit system

Ben
System

1 image/locus 3

10

2 images/locus 6

12

18

18

20

3 images/locus 9

18

27

27

30

The number of images required also varies greatly:

a 9-digit system (3-3-3) requires 512 images (8*8*8)

a 10-digit system (4-3-3) requires 1,024 images (16*8*8)

an 11-digit system (4-4-3) requires 2,048 images (16*16*8)

a 12-digit system (4-4-4) requires 4,096 images (16*16*16)