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finger.
(In the case of taking off the counter in the
upper part, push up the counter with the
(12)
forefinger. (subtraction)
In the case of putting in the counter in the
lower part, push up the counter with the thumb.
(addition)
Push down the counter with the forefinger.
(means addition in the case of five counter)
(means subtraction in the case of one counter)
A counter already placed, i.e., a counter which
has already been "put in" and which remains
(13)
either on the top or at the bottom.
A counter newly "put in".
A counter "taken off".
(*)
(/)
Addition
(A) 2 + 1
Answer: 3
(B) 2 + 6
Answer: 8
(C) 2 + 4
In this case,
thumb first.
Then put in 5
the forefinger,
put in 1 (lower
thumb.
(15)
Answer: 6
(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
Subtraction
(F) 10 - 3
Answer: 7
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 num-
14
12
--134
63
Compare the multiplicand, i.
e., 8, with the multiplier 7. "9 x 7
0 6
2 4
0 2
0 8
------------3 6 4
(31)
of the multiplicand,
the multiplier, "4 x 2
8 on the upright C.
product is 364 as
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. The diagram above shows the different steps on "Abacus" in the course of calculation
of "678 x 345".
Note: The encircled
figures indicate the
steps in calculation.
4.076 x 0.028 = 0.11428
multiplier
0.028
A B C D E F G
--------------4 0 7 6........multiplicand
1 2......(1) (2 x 6)
4 8....(2) (8 x 6)
1 4........(3) (2 x 7)
5 6......(4) (8 x 7)
8............(5) (2 x 4)
3 2..........(6) (8 x 4)
--------------0 1 1 4 1 2 8
(37)
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)
(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"