SECTION FOUR.

COMPLEMENTARY NUMBERS

One of the most important concepts to understand in order to become a proficient abacist is that
of complementary numbers.

RULE: Give a number, whenever the sum of any two numbers equals the given number, the two
numbers are said to be complementary.

When adding or subtracting two numbers on the abacus, the concept of complementary
numbers makes it easy to manipulate the beads. For abacists, the important complements are
for the numbers 5 and 10.

For example, the complementary numbers for 5 are 1+4, 2+3, 3+2 and 4+1.

The complementary numbers for 10 are 1+9, 2+8, 3+7, 4+6, 5+5, 6+4, 7+3, 8+2 and 9+1.

See the Addition General Procedure, Cases 1 and 2 for an explanation of how complementary
numbers are used when adding on the abacus.

SECTION FIVE.ADDITION

In a addition problem, the top number is called an addend, the number to be added is also called
an addend, and the answer is called the sum.

General Procedure

1. Move the beads for the first number to the crosspiece starting from the left and making sure
that the beads for the unit digit are placed on column 8.

2. Starting from the left, move the beads to the crosspiece for the number to be added. If there are
not enough beads under the crosspiece or in a column to add the number, the concept of
complementary numbers is used. There are two cases:

CASE 1.

To add a number less than 4 when there are not enough beads under the crosspiece to move up
and the five unit bead is not used, the five unit bead is moved down to the crosspiece and beads
for the 5's complement of the number that is being added must be moved away (or subtracted*)
to obtain the sum. See Example 1.

CASE 2.

To add a number when there are not enough beads for the number, beads for the 10's
complement of the number that is being added must be moved away (or subtracted*) and one
bead must be added (or carried) to the column on the left to obtain the sum. See Example 2.
*For convenience we shall also use the word "subtract" to indicate that beads are being moved
away from the crosspiece.

Example 1. Add: 4 +3

Enter first number (4) in col 8.

To add 3 in col 8; add 5,

and subtract 2. Sum is 7.

There are not enough beads under the crosspiece in column 8 to add 3 more, so we move a five
unit bead down to the crosspiece and take away (subtract) the complement of 3 relative to 5,
which is 2. (Case 1) Therefore we move 2 beads away (subtract 2 beads) in column 8 to obtain
the sum.
Example 2. Add: 7+4

Enter first number (7) in col 8.

To add 4 in col 8, subtract the complement of 4 which is 6 and add 1 bead to the column on the
left. Therefore, subtract 5,

Then subtract 1,

and carry 1 to col 7. Sum is 11.

There are not enough beads in column 8 to add 4 more, so we take the complement of 4 relative
to 10 (which is 6), move away (or subtract) 6 from column 8 by moving the five unit bead and
one unit bead away and carry (or add) one bead to the column on the left.

Example 3. Add: 72+86

Enter first number (72) in cols 7-8.

(Remember, numbers are entered and added from left to right when using the abacus.)

To add 8 in col 7; subtract 2,

and carry 1 to col 6.

To add 6 in col 8; add 5,

and add 1. Sum is 158.

Example 4. Add: 654+139

Enter first number (654) in cols 6-8.

Add 1 in col 6.

Add 3 in col 7.
To add 9 in col 8; subtract 1,

and carry 1 to col 7. Sum is 793.

Try solving the addition problems below and then do more of your own until you can perform
addition quickly and easily without thinking "What do I do next?".

Practice Exercises
SECTION SIX. SUBRACTION

In a subtraction problem, the top number is called the minuend, the number to be subtracted is
called the subtrahend and the answer is calls the difference.

General Procedure

1. Move the beads for the top number (minuend) to the crosspiece making sure that the beads for
the unit digit are located on column 8.

2. Starting from the left, move the beads for the number to be subtracted (the subtrahend) away
from the crosspiece using the correct digit placement (100's, 10's unit). If there are not enough
beads available under the crosspiece or in a column, the concept of complementary numbers is
used to subtract the number.

To subtract two numbers when a digit in the minuend is smaller than a digit in the subtrahend,
one bead is borrowed (subtracted) from the column on the left. Then the beads for the 10's
complement of the number you are subtracting are added to the current column to obtain the
difference. See example 7. Negative numbers, however, are not used on the abacus.

Example 5. Subtract: 8-2

Eenter minuend (8) in col 8.

Subtract 2 in col 8.

Difference is 6.

Example 6. Subtract: 97-15

Enter minuend (97) in cols 7-8

Subtract 1 in col 7.

Subtract 5 in col 8.
Difference is 82.

Example 7. Subtract: 12-6

Enter minuend (12) in cols 7-8.

Borrow 1 in col 7.

To subtract 6 in col 8; add 5

and subtract 1.
Difference is 6.
In order to subtract 6 in column 8, borrow 1 bead from column 7 and add the 10's complement of
6 (which is 4) to column 8. There are 2 beads under the crosspiece in this column so in order to
add 4 more, the concept of complementary numbers is used again. A 5 unit bead is moved down
to the crosspiece and 1 bead (the 5's complement of 4) is subtracted in column 8.

Example 8. Subtract: 5,253-148

Enter minuend (5,253) in cols 5-8.

Subtract 1 in col 6.

To subtract 4 in col 7;
add 1,
and subtract 5.

To subtract 8 in col 8,
borrow 1 in col 7,

add 5 in col 8,

and subtract 3 (5's complement of 2).

Difference is 5,105.

Practice Exercises

5 - 3 15 - 9 50 - 27 150 - 76 115 - 56 7,951 - 963

9 - 8 32 - 19 86 - 29 487 - 98 517 - 99 4,715 - 4,269

6 - 4 48 - 37 69 - 25 926 - 58 119 - 97 15,613 - 7,815

5 - 2 32 - 19 71 - 23 334 - 84 876 - 68 49,136 - 1,382

4 - 1 27 - 17 43 - 75 851 - 75 722 - 54 89,724 - 9,176

7 - 2 51 - 38 23 - 16 683 - 25 283 - 95 37,153 - 8,239

8 - 5 93 - 57 81 - 57 720 - 65 333 - 77 25,734 - 3,476

9 - 8 75 - 46 34 - 28 245 - 19 415 - 36 64,284 - 5,045

6 - 2 66 - 58 57 - 39 554 - 27 536 - 58 70,463 - 6,198

Points to Remember:

When using complementary numbers in addition, you subtract the 10's complement of the
number you are adding, and add one bead to the column on the left.

In subtraction, you borrow a bead from the column on the left and add the 10's
complement of the number you are subtracting.

SECTION SIX. SUBRACTION

In a subtraction problem, the top number is called the minuend, the number to be subtracted is
called the subtrahend and the answer is calls the difference.

General Procedure

1. Move the beads for the top number (minuend) to the crosspiece making sure that the beads for
the unit digit are located on column 8.

2. Starting from the left, move the beads for the number to be subtracted (the subtrahend) away
from the crosspiece using the correct digit placement (100's, 10's unit). If there are not enough
beads available under the crosspiece or in a column, the concept of complementary numbers is
used to subtract the number.

To subtract two numbers when a digit in the minuend is smaller than a digit in the subtrahend,
one bead is borrowed (subtracted) from the column on the left. Then the beads for the 10's
complement of the number you are subtracting are added to the current column to obtain the
difference. See example 7. Negative numbers, however, are not used on the abacus.

Example 5. Subtract: 8-2

Eenter minuend (8) in col 8.

Subtract 2 in col 8.

Difference is 6.

Example 6. Subtract: 97-15

Enter minuend (97) in cols 7-8

Subtract 1 in col 7.
Subtract 5 in col 8.

Difference is 82.

Example 7. Subtract: 12-6

Enter minuend (12) in cols 7-8.

Borrow 1 in col 7.

To subtract 6 in col 8; add 5

and subtract 1.
Difference is 6.
In order to subtract 6 in column 8, borrow 1 bead from column 7 and add the 10's complement of
6 (which is 4) to column 8. There are 2 beads under the crosspiece in this column so in order to
add 4 more, the concept of complementary numbers is used again. A 5 unit bead is moved down
to the crosspiece and 1 bead (the 5's complement of 4) is subtracted in column 8.

Example 8. Subtract: 5,253-148

Enter minuend (5,253) in cols 5-8.

Subtract 1 in col 6.

To subtract 4 in col 7;
add 1,
and subtract 5.

To subtract 8 in col 8,
borrow 1 in col 7,

add 5 in col 8,

and subtract 3 (5's complement of 2).

Difference is 5,105.

Practice Exercises

5 - 3 15 - 9 50 - 27 150 - 76 115 - 56 7,951 - 963

9 - 8 32 - 19 86 - 29 487 - 98 517 - 99 4,715 - 4,269

6 - 4 48 - 37 69 - 25 926 - 58 119 - 97 15,613 - 7,815

5 - 2 32 - 19 71 - 23 334 - 84 876 - 68 49,136 - 1,382

4 - 1 27 - 17 43 - 75 851 - 75 722 - 54 89,724 - 9,176

7 - 2 51 - 38 23 - 16 683 - 25 283 - 95 37,153 - 8,239

8 - 5 93 - 57 81 - 57 720 - 65 333 - 77 25,734 - 3,476

9 - 8 75 - 46 34 - 28 245 - 19 415 - 36 64,284 - 5,045

6 - 2 66 - 58 57 - 39 554 - 27 536 - 58 70,463 - 6,198

Points to Remember:

When using complementary numbers in addition, you subtract the 10's complement of the
number you are adding, and add one bead to the column on the left.

In subtraction, you borrow a bead from the column on the left and add the 10's
complement of the number you are subtracting.

SECTION SIX. SUBRACTION

In a subtraction problem, the top number is called the minuend, the number to be subtracted is
called the subtrahend and the answer is calls the difference.

General Procedure

1. Move the beads for the top number (minuend) to the crosspiece making sure that the beads for
the unit digit are located on column 8.

2. Starting from the left, move the beads for the number to be subtracted (the subtrahend) away
from the crosspiece using the correct digit placement (100's, 10's unit). If there are not enough
beads available under the crosspiece or in a column, the concept of complementary numbers is
used to subtract the number.

To subtract two numbers when a digit in the minuend is smaller than a digit in the subtrahend,
one bead is borrowed (subtracted) from the column on the left. Then the beads for the 10's
complement of the number you are subtracting are added to the current column to obtain the
difference. See example 7. Negative numbers, however, are not used on the abacus.

Example 5. Subtract: 8-2

Eenter minuend (8) in col 8.

Subtract 2 in col 8.

Difference is 6.

Example 6. Subtract: 97-15

Enter minuend (97) in cols 7-8

Subtract 1 in col 7.
Subtract 5 in col 8.

Difference is 82.

Example 7. Subtract: 12-6

Enter minuend (12) in cols 7-8.

Borrow 1 in col 7.

To subtract 6 in col 8; add 5

and subtract 1.
Difference is 6.
In order to subtract 6 in column 8, borrow 1 bead from column 7 and add the 10's complement of
6 (which is 4) to column 8. There are 2 beads under the crosspiece in this column so in order to
add 4 more, the concept of complementary numbers is used again. A 5 unit bead is moved down
to the crosspiece and 1 bead (the 5's complement of 4) is subtracted in column 8.

Example 8. Subtract: 5,253-148

Enter minuend (5,253) in cols 5-8.

Subtract 1 in col 6.

To subtract 4 in col 7;
add 1,
and subtract 5.

To subtract 8 in col 8,
borrow 1 in col 7,

add 5 in col 8,

and subtract 3 (5's complement of 2).

Difference is 5,105.

Practice Exercises

5 - 3 15 - 9 50 - 27 150 - 76 115 - 56 7,951 - 963

9 - 8 32 - 19 86 - 29 487 - 98 517 - 99 4,715 - 4,269

6 - 4 48 - 37 69 - 25 926 - 58 119 - 97 15,613 - 7,815

5 - 2 32 - 19 71 - 23 334 - 84 876 - 68 49,136 - 1,382

4 - 1 27 - 17 43 - 75 851 - 75 722 - 54 89,724 - 9,176

7 - 2 51 - 38 23 - 16 683 - 25 283 - 95 37,153 - 8,239

8 - 5 93 - 57 81 - 57 720 - 65 333 - 77 25,734 - 3,476

9 - 8 75 - 46 34 - 28 245 - 19 415 - 36 64,284 - 5,045

6 - 2 66 - 58 57 - 39 554 - 27 536 - 58 70,463 - 6,198

Points to Remember:

When using complementary numbers in addition, you subtract the 10's complement of the
number you are adding, and add one bead to the column on the left.

In subtraction, you borrow a bead from the column on the left and add the 10's
complement of the number you are subtracting.

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