By: Ashley Margolis

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.

How is the Abacus used?

Addison Example

2 + 6

Answer = 8

"Abacus Guide Book." Abacus. 18 Nov 2007 <http://www.tux.org/~bagleyd/AbacusGB.html>.

Advantages of learning the AbacusHelps 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 <http://www.smm.org/boghopper/Abacus.html>.

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 <http://www.smm.org/boghopper/Abacus.html>.

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 <http://www.ee.ryerson.ca:8080/~elf/abacus/history.html>.

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 <http://www.tux.org/~bagleyd/AbacusGB.html>.

Different types of AbaciRussian Japanes

e

Chinese

Called a Schoty

10 beads on each rod

Start by moving all the beads to the right side.

Move beads from right to left.

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

Roman

Is considered the first pocket calculator.

Interesting facts about the AbacusAbacus 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.

Bibliography"Abacus." 15 October 1998 1. 15 November 1007

<http://www.smm.org/boghopper/Abacus.html>.

Pullan, J.M.. The History of the Abacus. Great Britain: Hutchinson of London, 1968.

"Abacus Guide Book." Abacus. 18 Nov 2007 <http://www.tux.org/~bagleyd/AbacusGB.html>.

Fernandes, Luis. "A Brief History of the Abacus." Abacus, The Art of Calculating with Beads. 30 August 2007. 13 Nov 2007 <http://www.ee.ryerson.ca:8080/~elf/abacus/history.html>.