Can you improve your memory?

Try to multiply 454 x 463 in your head. Note: I picked numbers that force you to carry.

If I can multiply that it in my head, it is at the limit of my memory and concentration. It is even harder if there is noise in the room, since processing that noise takes memory, and thus takes away from what I can use to hold the numbers in my head.

How well can you do that in your head? Can you play a game of blindfold chess for 25 moves? Do you think you can improve your memory and concentration by multiplying numbers in your head?

There are techniques for doing this fast and easily, but I'm skipping those techniques because they miss the point: to exert my brain.

Here is another problem that kept me busy for over 10 minutes:

3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 3 ^ 10 = ?

Tell me how fast you can do that and if you get it correct. If that took me 10 minutes to do in my head, does that mean I have memory problems, or am I average or above average.

I also noticed if I drink any alcohol even moderately, my performance drops off greatly at this level of exercion, for days or weeks afterwards, though I'd never notice the mental impairment on normal day to day activities. Am I being ridiculous if I stop drinking for that reason? 

I'd keep drinking.

It took me 10 minutes to solve the 3^10 problem back when I was 21 and in the military. At least I think it was ^10. Maybe it was ^12. I did not have a calculator with me to check my answer, either.

I just solved it again right now, it took me 60 seconds, except I made a mistake at the end. I correctly multiplied 9 x 6561, but I went from the ones place to the thousands place, by which time I forgot some of the one's and ten's place numbers. I got the 59,0xx part correct, but I rushed and got the last two digits wrong. I could have got it right had I been more careful.

+1

lol Shivsky