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INTRODUCTION TO "ABACUS"
(*)
(/)
Addition
(A) 2 + 1
Answer: 3
In this case, first put in 2 with
the thumb, second, put in 1 with
thumb.
(14)
(B) 2 + 6
Answer: 8
In this case,
thumb first.
Then put in 5
the forefinger,
put in 1 (lower
thumb.
(15)
(C) 2 + 4
Answer: 6
First, put in 2 with the thumb; Second, to add for put in
5 of the upper part and take
off 1, of the lower part with
the forefinger.
(16)
(D) 9 + 7
Answer: 16
First, put in 9 with the forefinger and thumb. Then to
add 7, take off 3 with the forefinger, and put in 1 in place
with the thumb, i.e., think 7
and 3 are 10. So take off 3 and
carry the 1 ten which is put in
the tens' the tens' place with thumb.
(17)
(E) 36 + 75
Answer: 111
To add two place
Subtraction
(F) 10 - 3
Answer: 7
In this case there are no ones.
Consequently 1 ten is borrowed
by taking off 1 ten with the
forefinger and 3 ones are subtracted from it by putting in 7 ones,
the remainder, with the forefinger and thumb.
(20)
(G) 12 - 6
Answer: 6
In the same there are not enough) ones to subtract from. Consequently, as in example (F) 1 ten
must be borrowed. With the
forefinger 1 ten is taken off and
the remainder 4 ones are put in
by putting in a five counter and taking off a one
counter in the ones' place.
(21)
(H) 100 - 58
Answer: 42
In subtraction involving
two place, three place numbers and above, always commence from the left to the
right as in the case of addition. In this case subtract 5
tens of the number 58 from the tens. However, as
there are no tens, 1 hundred is borrowed in a same
manner as in example F. Next, in subtracting 8
(22)
ones, as there are no ones left, 1 ten must be
borrowed. 8 is subtracted and 2 ones, the remainder,
are put in by the same method as of example (F).
[Other examples]
4 - 2 = 2
5 - 3 = 2
6 - 2 = 4
8 - 6 = 2
17 - 4 =13
11 - 6 = 5
15 - 6 = 9
12 - 6 = 6
88 -45 =43
40 -15 =25
30 -22 = 8
27 -12 =15
136 -74 =62
112 -50 =62
300 -126=174 10000-41=959
Exercise for addition and subtraction.
(23)
"How to exercise?"
You need not care about the unit position.
(1) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
First of all, put in
(2) 2 4 6 9 1 3 5 7 8 "123,456,789" on the
(3) 3 7 0 3 7 0 3 6 7 "Abacus", and then
(4) 4 9 3 8 2 7 1 5 6 put in "123,456,789"
(5) 6 1 7 2 8 3 9 4 5 eight times, i.e., and
(6) 7 4 0 7 4 0 7 3 4 "123,456,789" to "123,
(7) 8 6 4 1 9 7 5 2 1 456,789" eight times.
(8) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 1 2
---------------------(9) 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1
(24)
The sum is "1,111,101". This is exercise for addition.
For exercise of subtraction, subtract "123,456,
789" from "1,111,111,101 nine times. The
remainder "0".
Multiplication
of uprights, from the unit position of the multiplicand, toward the right: this upright is the
unit position for the product.
2) In case the multiplier is a decimal number (except
the mixed-decimal number) and there are
some 0's "Zeros" between the decimal point
and the decimal-significant figure 1, 2, 3, ......9:
Count a number of 0 "zero" between the decimal
(26)
point and the decimal-significant figure of the
multiplier. Count off an equal number of uprights,
from the unit position of the multiplcand,
toward the left: this upright is the unit position
for the product.
3) In such case where the multiplier is the decimal
number and there is no 0 "zero" between the
decimal point and the decimal-significant number
the unit position of the multiplicand is the unit
(27)
position for the product.
67 x 2 = 134
14
12
--134
Compare the last figure
of the multiplicand, i.e., 7
on the upright B, with the
multiplier 2. "2 x 7 is 14"
therefore, after taking off
7 from the upright B,
place 1, the first figure of
14, on the upright B, and
(28)
Place 4, the second figure, on the upright C. Next,
compare 6, another figure in the multiplicand, with
the multiplier, 2.
"2 x 6 is 12" therefore, after taking off 6 from the
upright A, place 1, the first figure of 12, on the
upright A, then add2, the second figure, to 1 on
the upright B. The product is 134.
(29)
9 x 7 = 63
63
Compare the multiplicand, i.
e., 8, with the multiplier 7. "9 x 7
is 63", ---therefore, take off
9 and place 6, the first figure
of 63, on the upright A, and
place 3, the second figure on
the upright. B, after taking off
9 from the upright A. The product is 63
(30)
26 x 14 = 364
0 6
2 4
0 2
0 8
------------3 6 4
(31)
In illustration No. 1, we see that the multiplier is
a two place integral. Therefore, count off two
uprights, from the unit position of the multiplicand, i.
e., from the upright B, toward the right. The upright
D is the unit position for product.
Process of multiplication:
1) Compare the last figure of the multiplicand, i.
e., 6 on the upright B, with the first figure of
the multiplier i.e. 1.
(32)
"1 x 6 is 6" --- therefore, after taking off 6 from
the upright B, place 6 on the upright C.
2) Next, compare the same 6 with the second figure
2 4
(1)
3 2
(2)
4 0 (3)
2 1
(4)
2 8
(5)
3 5
(6)
1 8
(7)
2 4
(8)
3 0
(9)
--------------Required answer... 2 3 3 9 1 0
(35)
Determination of the unit
---------------------position for the product: In
multiplicand 394
this case, the multiplier is a
---------------------three place integral, therefore, multiplier | product
count off three uprights, from
---------------------the unit position of the mul2 |
tiplicand, i.e., from the up4 |
right C, toward the right: the
6 |
upright F is in the unit position
12 |
19 |
20 |
123 |
456 |
---------------------(36)
for the product.
Division
between the decimal point and the decimalsignificant figure of the divisor, the unit
position of the dividend is the unit position
for the quotient.
3) In such case as there is no "0" ("zero") between
the decimal point and the decimal-significant
figure, next upright from the unit position of
the dividend towards
the left is the unit position for the quotient.
(42)
93 / 3 = 31
divisor
3
dividend
A B C D
9 3
3
9
--------3 0 0 3
1 -3
--------3 1
(43)
In the above illustration, we see that the divisor
is a one-place integra therefore, count off one upright,
from the unit position of the dividend, i.e., from the
upright D, towards the left: count off one more: then
the last upright, i.e., the upright B is the unit
position for the quotient.
Process of division:
1) Compare the first figure of the dividend, i.e., 9
on the upright C, with the divisor 3. Find how
(44)
many 3's there are in 9 --- "9 / 3 is ?". There
are three 3's in 9, therefore, place 3 on the
upright A, as the quotient figure.
2) Multiply the divisor 3, by the quotient figure, 3
on the upright A. "3 x 3 is 9", therefore subtract
9 from the upright C.
3) Compare the remainder, 3 of the dividend on
the upright D, with the divisor 3. Find how
many 3's there are in 3, --- "3 / 3 is ?".
(45)
There is one 3 in 3, therefore, place on the
upright B as the quotient figure.
4) Multiply the divisor by the second quotient
figure of 1. "3 x 1 is 3" --- therefore, take off 3
from the upright D.
The quotient is 31.
(46)
1476 / 12 = 123
divisor
12
dividend
A B C D E F
1 4 7 6
1
-1
-2
--------------------partial........2 7 6
dividend 2
-2
-4
--------------------partial..........3 6
dividend
3
-3
-6
--------------------quotient 1 2 3
0
(47)
In the left illustration, we see that the divisor is
a two-place integral; therefore, count off two uprights, from the unit position of the dividend, i.e., from
the upright F towards the left: count off one more;
then the last one the upright C, is the unit position
for the quotient.
Process of division:
1) Compare the first figure of the dividend, i.e., 1
on the upright C with the first figure of the
(48)
divisor of 12, i.e., 1. Find how many 1's there
are in 1 --- "1 / 1 is ?" There is one 1 in 1, therefore, place 1 on the upright A as the quotient
figure.
2) Multiply 1, the first figure of the divisor, by 1,
the first quotient figure on the upright A. "1 x 1
is 1" --- therefore, subtract 1 from the upright C.
3) Multiply 2, the second figure of the divisor, by 1,
the first quotient figure "1 x 2 is 2"; --- therefore,
(49)
subtract 2 from the upright D. Now you will get
276 which is the partial dividend.
4) Compare the first figure of the partial dividend
i.e., 2, with the first figure of the divisor of 12
i.e., 1. Find how many 1's there are in 2 --"2 / 1 is ?". There are two 1's in 2, therefore, place
2 on the upright B as the quotient figure.
(53)
figure of the dividend, 6, with the figure of the
divisor 2.
Find how many 2's there are in 6, --- "6 / 2 is
?". There are three 2's in 6. Therefore, place 3 on
the upright A.
2) Multiply 2, the first figure of the divisor, by 3
the quotient figure on the upright A. "2 x 3 is 6"
--- therefore subtract 6 from the upright C.
3) Multiply 2, the second figure of divisor, by 3
(54)
the quotient figure "2 x 3 is 6" --- therefore, sub-