Amazing Art of the Abacus Addition and Subtraction

Amazing Art of the Abacus: Addition and Subtraction Made Easy Candace Attwood

About the Abacus n Many different places use some form of the abacus, including: n n n n Russia Egypt Rome Germany China Japan Greece United States n Different kinds of abaci include n n n Suan Pan (China) Soroban (Japan) Schoty (Russia) Nepohualtzitzin (Aztec civilisation) Among others

More about the Abacus n The word ‘abacus’ is said to have originated from either the Hebrew or Latin languages: n ‘abaq’ is Hebrew for ‘dust’ (as calculations were performed in the dirt or with stones) n ‘abax’ is Latin for ‘table’ (derived from the Greek) n In the Asian countries, ‘soroban’ and ‘suan pan’ both mean ‘calculating board’.

Parts of the Abacus

How to Add/Subtract with the Abacus *Watch Candace demonstrate using her homemade soroban

Usefulness in the Classroom n Easier for kids to learn more about: n Place value n Multiplication n Division n Addition n Subtraction n Different Cultures

What Kids Can Take from This n Abacus is a means to represent numbers in a different manner. n Kids can manipulate objects to make learning some concepts easier. n Kids can learn how to do mental math easier (learn how to utilise ‘imaginary abacus’).

Just for Fun (if there is time) n Awesome video showing a math class in Japan, and use of their ‘imaginary abacus’: n http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=w. Ii. Doml. Ej. Jw

References n n n n n Chen, C. , Wu, T. , Cheng, M. , Huang, Y. , Sheu, C. , Hsieh, J. , et al. (2006). Prospective demonstration of brain plasticity after intensive abacus-based mental calculation training: An f. MRI study. Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A, 569(2), 567 -571. http: //www. sciencedirect. com/science? _ob=Article. URL&_udi=B 6 TJM-4 KY 8785 C&_user=2665553&_cover. Date=12%2 F 2006&_rdoc=92&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=docinfo(%23 toc%235314%232006%23994309997%23638329%23 FLA%23 display%23 Volume)&_cdi=5314&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=110&_acct=C 000 058484&_version=1&_url. Version=0&_userid=2665553&md 5=e 66 f 2 cab 7 e 75 bb 0 c 8 cc 4 d 1 d 7 c 7491350 Krampner, J. (1993). Ancient abacus: Elegant, accurate, fun to operate. Dollar. Sense, 10. http: //web. ebscohost. com/ehost/detail? vid=8&hid=15&sid=5 b 257588 -6 dad-4 f 37 -8 a 6494167 df 57 c 5 b%40 sessionmgr 10&bdata=Jn. Npd. GU 9 ZWhvc 3 Qtb. Gl 2 ZQ%3 d%3 d#db=aph&AN=9403117506 Chen, F. , Hu, Z. , Zhao, X. , Wang, R. , Yang, Z. , Wang, X. , et al. (2006). Neural correlates of serial abacus mental calculation in children: A functional MRI study. Neuroscience Letters, 403(1/2), 46 -51. http: //www. sciencedirect. com/science? _ob=Publication. URL&_tockey=%23 TOC%234862%232006%23995969998%23626902%23 FLA%23&_cdi=486 2&_pub. Type=J&_auth=y&_acct=C 000058484&_version=1&_url. Version=0&_userid=2665553&md 5=c 6162 b 5319193 a 8 c 9 ab 0 a 89420 d 2 be 68 Irwing, P. , Hamza, A. , Khaleefa, O. , & Lynn, R. (2008). Effects of Abacus training on the intelligence of Sudanese children. Personality & Individual Differences, 45(7), 694 -696. http: //www. sciencedirect. com/science? _ob=Article. List. URL&_method=list&_Article. List. ID=1334792426&_sort=v&_st=17&view=c&_acct=C 00005848 4&_version=1&_url. Version=0&_userid=2665553&md 5=b 4 a 1685 a 5 c 01934 f 9 b 657 f 2 c 696266 fb Naylor, M. , & Naylor, P. (2001). Building and Using the Amazing Abacus. (cover story). Teaching Children Mathematics, 8(4), 202. http: //web. ebscohost. com/ehost/detail? vid=3&hid=14&sid=92688 b 19 -d 6 ff-4 b 9 d-94 e 537773683 ee 20%40 sessionmgr 14&bdata=Jn. Npd. GU 9 ZWhvc 3 Qtb. Gl 2 ZQ%3 d%3 d#db=tfh&AN=5569296 http: //www. tertisco-alexandru. com/images/abacus-parts. gif http: //www. cut-the-knot. org/blue/Abacus. shtml