How to Use the Abacus to Learn Math

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The abacus is basically a calculating tool, a bit ancient, but quite an effective replacement for the calculator. Simple mathematical problems like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division could be performed with accuracy and ease. But of course you need to know how.

An abacus consists of two rows of beads, which are arranged in columns. The number of columns vary for different devices. The number of beads in each column of the lower row is four and that in the upper row is a maximum of two. Each bead in the lower row has a value 1 and that in the upper row has a value of 5. This is the general idea. Now, the abacus can be used to calculate complex arithmetic problems as well, for example decimals. The assignment of values to the beads in the upper and lower row could be done accordingly. Keeping this in mind, the value of a bead in the upper row needs to be 5 times that of the second row. In this article, we would learn to work out the basic addition and subtraction operations. So let’s get on with it.

Addition

Let us first assign places to the columns. The rightmost column is the ones place, the next one is the tens, then comes the hundreds place, and so on. Let us suppose that we have to add 123 to 456. Now the question is, how do you make 456 on the abacus?

• The digit in the ones place is 6, now in the ones column of the lower row push 1 bead to the ‘up’ position. This makes your abacus read 1.
• Now push ‘down’ one bead in the ones column of the upper row. Now, the whole of the rightmost column, the upper and lower ones together, reads 6, in fact your abacus now reads 6. This is called the 4/5 exchange.
• The ones place done, let’s move on to the tens place. Keep all the beads down in the tens place of the lower row and push one bead down in the upper row of the same column. Now your abacus reads 56. You already know what to do in the hundreds column.
• Now, addition is done from the left to the right. So, the first numbers you will add are 1 and 4. Since 1 and 4 make 5, we need to make the hundreds column of the abacus read 5. Push down all the beads from the hundreds column of the lower row and push down one bead from the same column of the upper row.
• For the ones place, you need to make it a 7. For this, push up two beads from the lower row of the hundreds column and keep the bead from the upper column down. This makes the whole of tens column read 7.
• By now you already know what to do with the ones column. Work that out and you would arrive at the answer 579.

Easy, right? Almost like the everyday pie.

Subtraction

Let us subtract 123 from 912. You know the first step by now. Let’s revise still.

• Your abacus needs to read 912 at first. Set it accordingly.
• Subtraction also goes from left to right. So, the second step is to subtract 1 from 9. This makes 8. So, your abacus needs to read 8 in the hundreds column. For that, one bead in the hundreds place of the upper row needs to be down and 3 beads of the lower row of the same column should be up. This makes a total of 8.
• Now, you need to carry out subtraction in the tens place. But you can’t subtract 2 from 1. This is where you borrow. Borrow 1 from the hundreds place. This is how you work it out. Push down one bead from the lower row of the hundreds column. This makes the hundreds column read 7. Now, you need to subtract 2 from 11 in the tens place, which gives the answer 9. You already know how to come at 9 in the abacus.
• Now, for the ones column, you get the same problem. You cannot subtract 3 from 2. Follow the same procedure. Borrow 1 from the tens place. This would make the tens place read 8. Now, subtract 3 from 12 and arrange your beads accordingly.
• After completion, your abacus would read 789.

How quick was that? You could go on to perform more complex operations with the abacus. Decimal operations could be carried out by leaving one column to denote the ‘point’ in the number.

Benefits of Learning the Abacus

Abacus has revived itself to become the next revolution in Math. You could ask your tutors to incorporate the abacus into your daily Math lessons the next time.  Abacus learning has an array of beneficial features, some of which are discussed below:

• The worst case scenario is the fear of Math. But putting in ‘fear of Math’ and ‘abacus’ in one sentence would make it an oxymoron, this is the power of the abacus. Mathematics can be made simpler and uncomplicated by this device.
• The abacus helps in developing imaging skills among the students. Once the students start forming a mental image of the sum they need to solve, getting to the solution becomes the easier part. This skill comes in quite handy for a lot of other aspects in life as well.
• Guaranteed accuracy, along with quick problem solving, are the added benefits.
• Abacus helps to develop concentration, listening power, and creativity in students.
• Apart from that, students who are blind cannot be expected to use calculators. This is where an abacus becomes relevant. Calculators would not be required anymore if students can learn to use the abacus properly.

Therefore, the abacus is like a quiet genius. Mathematical operations could be solved at the blink of an eye with this device. Learning the techniques is also not a big deal anymore, since you can avail of the courses and classes in various educational institutes that could guide you through the basics.