from Hacker News

Aphantasia, or how not to do math in your head (2019)

by etherio on 3/5/22, 11:20 PM with 2 comments

  • by ggm on 3/5/22, 11:27 PM

    The ability to recall one or two 3 or 4 digit numbers having previously "jotted" them down plays well here. If you can remember the 900 in this worked example, whilst doing the other half of the sum.. you hit a moment where the heuristic recurses and you have to "jot down" a partial result to finish the sub calculation.. to then add to the damn.. what was that value again...
  • by bitxbitxbitcoin on 3/6/22, 12:12 AM

    I prefer aphantastic to aphantasiac. I consider it a more fantastic term.

    As an aphantastic, sub vocalizing as described is exactly how I do mental math.