However, 17 was superior to 18 in my mind aesthetically, not numerically. If you'd make me choose between receiving $18MM or $17MM, I'm not above receiving an extra one.
I guess. I had (and still have) all kinds of images but I guess everybody has them.
Like for instance, in high-school when learning derivation and integration.. I'd always imagine sine to be a dominant almost bullying function (starts with an "S", looks erect like a snake about to jump at you), and cosine to be the submissive one (starts with a C, curved back). In many ways, the Sine behaves like a treacherous snake you have to handle more carefully than a Cosine.
Some formulas invoked musical tones and melodies in my mind (like the integration by parts has a specific melody I can hear).
The Sarrus method for calculating determinants was always the difference of two stars of David.
Other things are almost muscular. I used to know every phone number in my contact list for it only existed in my head (pushed numbers when I wanted to call someone). I remembered the numbers because the thumb followed a certain pattern on the keypad and each pattern was unique. Sometimes someone's phone number evoked things that were pertinent about the person.
Those are very interesting experiences! Most people do not have images like these, actually, even though it sounds normal to you since you've experienced it your whole life. I've done some research on synesthesia because it fascinates me, but I have never attributed personalities to numbers or formulas (or made other synesthetic connections). Thank you very much for sharing.
19 looked sophisticated, a calm mature lion or an eagle flying high. 17 looked like a very sharp shark or a young powerful wolf.