How To Use An Abacus/Introduction
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This wikibook is based on the French wikibook S'initier au boulier.
[edit] Introduction
The abacus is an ancient calculating device formerly used all over the world. It was originally a dust board, that is a board covered with dust (or wax) on which to trace figures, such as a writing pad is used nowadays. Later it became a board with grooves in which to slide counters back and forth. Finally, it became the familiar abacus, a wooden frame with beads on rods. In modern times, it has fallen out of use, being replaced by written arithmetic and, more recently, calculators; however, it is still used in Asian countries, in particular China and Japan.
There are many methods to use an abacus, those presented here are mostly classical, Japanese methods.
[edit] External links
- Abacus: Mystery of the Bead - An Abacus Manual
- Advanced Abacus Techniques
- Lee Kai-chen's Improved Abacus - A demonstration of how the Lee's Abacus works
- Learning Mathematics with the Abacus for Kids
