The abacus is an ancient calculation tool.

It expresses numbers by the position of the beads in the bead slot of the abacus and performs mathematical operations through the movement of the beads.

Although modern technology has replaced most computing tools, the abacus is still used and passed down in some places as a cultural heritage and educational tool.

1. History:

The history of the abacus dates back thousands of years to ancient civilizations. The earliest forms of abacus can be found in ancient Egypt, ancient Babylon, and ancient China. However, we focus on the development of the ancient Chinese abacus.

Chinese abacus originated in the Shang Dynasty in about 2000 BC. After several evolutions, it finally reached its peak in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It played an important role in the development of mathematics, commerce, and science in China.

2. Structure:

Frame: Usually a rectangular wooden or plastic frame that holds other components.

Bead Slot: Extends along the width of the frame for placing beads. Each groove is usually divided into two parts, the upper part is used to place the "5" and "50" beads, and the lower part is used to place the "1" and "10" beads.

Abacus: Usually small beads are used to represent numbers. Generally speaking, beads of different colors represent different digits, for example, red beads represent ones, white beads represent tens, green beads represent hundreds, and so on.

Divider: Beads used to separate different digits to make calculations clearer.

Slider: Located above the abacus, it is used to move the beads and perform calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

3. How to use:

Place the abacus on the table so that the frame is horizontal.

In the initial state, all beads should be on the outermost side, close to the user.

To represent a number, slide the corresponding number of beads from the outside to the corresponding position. For example, to represent "456," slide one white bead to the hundreds, five green beads to the tens, and six red beads to the ones.

When doing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, perform the corresponding operation by moving the beads and sliding rods. Moving the beads indicates addition and subtraction while the slider indicates carry and borrow.

4. The role of abacus in modern society:

Educational tools: Abacus can help children better understand number concepts, mathematical operations, and bases, and develop logical thinking skills.

Cultural Heritage: Abacus represents ancient Chinese culture and wisdom, and it is still used as a traditional tool in some cultural events and celebrations.

Precise Calculations: In some fields, such as accounting and business transactions, an abacus can provide an intuitive and reliable way of calculating, helping to avoid errors.

Brain Training: Using an abacus to perform complex calculations requires skill and memory and can be used as a way to exercise your brain.

As an ancient calculation tool, the abacus is no longer mainstream in modern society, but it has an important position in history, culture, and education.

By understanding the history, construction, and use of the abacus, we can better understand the development of the human computing tool and its value in the cultivation of the mind and cultural heritage.