Teach me a concept using the Feynman technique
Following an explanation and being able to reproduce it yourself, then answer questions about it, are different bars.
- Use it for
- Anyone who wants to genuinely understand a concept, not just follow an explanation of it once.
The Feynman technique's actual value is in the check that follows the explanation — a genuinely simple explanation still leaves real gaps that only show up when you're asked to apply or extend it, not when you're just following along. This prompt gives the explanation with no assumed background, then tests understanding with real questions rather than stopping once the explanation is delivered.
When not to use this
If you already have solid background in the topic's field, an explanation with zero assumed background will feel slow — a normal explanation pitched at your level serves better.
Did this work?
You can answer follow-up questions about the concept correctly, not just recognize the explanation as making sense when you read it.
Tested on claude-opus-5. Evidence status is draft; it moves to battle-tested only on recorded runs, never by hand.