The Abacus

1
The Abacus

• By Ashley Margolis

2
What is an Abacus

• An abacus is one of the first counting devices
• It is used for addition, subtraction,
  multiplication and division
• It is a calculator used by manually sliding
  counters along rods

Pullan, J.M.. The History of the Abacus. Great
Britain Hutchinson of London, 1968.
3
How is the Abacus used?
4
Addison Example
2 6
Answer 8
"Abacus Guide Book." Abacus. 18 Nov 2007
lthttp//www.tux.org/bagleyd/AbacusGB.htmlgt.
5
Advantages of learning the Abacus

• Helps kids learn basic number systems
• Helps kids understand barrowing and carrying in
  arithmetic
• Helps Kids understand combinations of five and
  ten
• Helps kids visualize the math and develops mental
  calculations

"Abacus." 15 October 1998 1. 15 November 1007
lthttp//www.smm.org/boghopper/Abacus.htmlgt.
6
Disadvantages of using an Abacus

• Unlike a calculator it can only be used for
  Addison subtraction, division and multiplication.
  
• Because counters are manually moved, its hard to
  tell if you make a mistake.

Abacus." 15 October 1998 1. 15 November 1007
lthttp//www.smm.org/boghopper/Abacus.htmlgt.
7
Why does the Abacus exist?

• Earliest counting device was the hand and
  fingers.
• When people started to count larger things used
  twigs and pebbles.
• Until numbers were used, people used many
  different types of counting devices and the
  Abacus was one of them.

Fernandes, Luis. "A Brief History of the Abacus."
Abacus, The Art of Calculating with Beads. 30
August 2007. 13 Nov 2007 lthttp//www.ee.ryerson.ca
8080/elf/abacus/history.htmlgt.
8
Can every one use the Abacus?

• Used by individuals who are blind or visually
  impaired.
• Gives blind students a tool to solve math
  problems that are long and difficult.
• Allows these students to complete problems as
  fast as their peers.
• Used switches instead of beads

"Abacus Guide Book." Abacus. 18 Nov 2007
lthttp//www.tux.org/bagleyd/AbacusGB.htmlgt.
9
Different types of Abaci
Chinese
Russian
Japanese
Roman

• Called a Soroban

• Called a Suanpan
• Has two beads on top of beam for weights and
  measures.
• In wood frame, 2 beads on top and 5 beads on the
  bottom

• Is considered
• the first pocket
• calculator.

• Called a Schoty
• 10 beads on each rod
• Start by moving all the
• beads to the right side.
• Move beads from right
• to left.

10
Interesting facts about the Abacus

• Abacus come from the Greek word ABAX, which
  means calculating table.
• The first record of the Abacus if from a drawing
  from the 14th century
• A lot of people in Russia and China still use the
  Abacus today.
• The Abacus is faster then a calculator in
  Addition and Subtraction.

11
Bibliography

• "Abacus." 15 October 1998 1. 15 November 1007
  lthttp//www.smm.org/boghopper/Abacus.htmlgt.
• Pullan, J.M.. The History of the Abacus. Great
  Britain Hutchinson of London, 1968.
• "Abacus Guide Book." Abacus. 18 Nov 2007
  lthttp//www.tux.org/bagleyd/AbacusGB.htmlgt.
• Fernandes, Luis. "A Brief History of the Abacus."
  Abacus, The Art of Calculating with Beads. 30
  August 2007. 13 Nov 2007 lthttp//www.ee.ryerson.ca
  8080/elf/abacus/history.htmlgt.