The abacus is used for performing the addition operation at high speed. It consists of vertical rods and movable beads. The vertical rods are placed in a serial manner with movable beads on each vertical rod.

A horizontal bar called beam separates the lower portion and upper portion of the abacus. The upper portion of the abacus is called upper deck and the beads placed in the upper deck are called upper beads. The lower portion of the abacus is called lower deck and the beads placed in the lower deck are called lower beads.

In the upper portion or upper deck, each vertical rod has one bead whereas in the lower portion or lower deck, each vertical rod has four beads. In the upper deck, each bead has a value of five (in the ones column) whereas in the lower deck, each bead has a value of one (in the ones column). 

When all the lower beads and upper beads are placed away from the horizontal bar, the beads value is counted as zero. When we push the upper beads down towards the horizontal bar or when we push the lower beads up towards the horizontal bar, the beads value is counted.

The right most column in the abacus is the one’s column. When we push one lower bead in the ones column up towards the horizontal bar, its value is counted as one. When we push one upper bead in the ones column down towards the horizontal bar, its value is counted as five.

To the left side of one’s column is the tens column. When we push one lower bead in the tens column up towards the horizontal bar, the bead value is counted as 10. When we push one upper bead in the tens column down towards the horizontal bar, the bead value is counted as 50.

To the left side of tens column is the hundreds column. When we push one lower bead in the hundreds column up towards the horizontal bar, the bead value is counted as 100. When we push one upper bead in the hundreds column down towards the horizontal bar, the bead value is counted as 500. The process is same for thousands, ten thousands, and so on.

Addition of single digit numbers using abacus

The various steps involved in adding the single digit numbers is as follows:

Step 1

In the ones column, push one lower deck bead up towards the horizontal bar. [Bead value counted as ‘1’]

Step 2

In the ones column, push three lower beads up towards the horizontal bar. [Beads value counted as ‘3’]

Step 3

Count the value of total beads. [Total beads value counted as ‘4]

Addition of two digit numbers using abacus

The various steps involved in adding the two digit numbers is as follows:

Addition:

Step 1

In the tens column, push two lower beads up towards the horizontal bar or beam.

Step 2

In the ones column, push two lower beads up towards the horizontal bar.

Step 3

In the tens column, add one bead by pushing up towards the horizontal bar.

Step 4

In the ones column, add two beads by pushing up towards the horizontal bar.

Step 5

Count the value of total beads moved towards the horizontal bar. [Total beads value counted as ‘34’]

The various steps involved in adding the three digit numbers is as follows:

Addition: 

Step 1

In the hundreds column, push one lower bead up towards the horizontal bar or beam.

Step 2

In the ten’s column, push two lower beads up towards the horizontal bar.

Step 3

In the ones column, push two lower beads up towards the horizontal bar.

Step 4

In the hundreds column, add two lower beads by pushing up towards the horizontal bar.

Step 5

In the tens column, add two lower beads by pushing up towards the horizontal bar.

Step 6

In the ones column, add one lower bead by pushing up towards the horizontal bar.

Step 7

Count the value of total beads moved towards the horizontal bar.  [Total beads value counted as ‘343’]

Addition operation using complementary numbers

Generally, complement refers to adding extra number or quantity to an existing number or thing to make it complete. Similarly, in abacus we add extra number to the existing number to make it complete.

For example, to achieve a value of five, we use complementary numbers such as (4 & 1) and (3 & 2). To achieve a value of 10, we use complementary numbers such as (5 & 5), (6 & 4), (7 & 3), (8 & 2), (9 & 1).

Single digits addition operation using complementary numbers

Addition: 

Step 1

In the ones column, push four lower beads up towards the horizontal bar.

Step 2

In the ones column, we have only four beads in the lower deck. Hence, we cannot add extra two lower beads. Therefore, we use the complementary numbers.

The complementary number for 2 with respect to 5 is 3. Therefore, subtract the complementary number 3 from 4 by pulling the three lower beads away from the horizontal bar.

Step 3

Add one upper bead by pushing down towards the horizontal bar.

Therefore 4 + 2 = 4 – 3 + 5 = 6

Step 4

Count the value of total beads moved towards the horizontal bar. [Total beads value counted as ‘6’]

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Learning abacus makes you understand the concept of numbers and improves your mental arithmetic skills and basic arithmetic ability in a short period of time. Basically, math is limited to the area of the left brain responsible for logic languages. However, abacus arithmetic stimulates the visual, auditory and tactile without exception and actively helps the development of the right brain responsible for the artistic and sensory abilities as well as the left brain.

If you learn an abacus calculation, 9 things to be improved

​Calculation ability - Learning an abacus is a basic learning that goes into an outstanding math prodigy with excellent calculation ability
  ​
Concentration - It is very good learning methods to kids who lack of concentration and have no motivation
  
Patience-Very good habit in all learning and behavioral development
  
Positiveness -Different ages and schools can be the friends and always responsible students
  
Brain development - Brain develops while you enjoy brain development
  
Agility -Since learning the abacus moving your fingers, you have agility.
  
Arithmetic operation, mental arithmetic - You know the correct answers in mathematics without calculator 
  
Good posture -Since learning with correct posture, the correct posture is also strong, durable body and mental health
  
Number sense - Because you have excellent sense in number, you will show a remarkable ability in mathematics and life calculations.

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