Science and Technology

How does an Abacus work?

Link to this answer

CloseClose

Link to this answer

Share this credible answer with others. Simply paste this code into your blog or Web page:

<a href="http://qanda.encyclopedia.com/question/does-abacus-work-78727.html" >How does an Abacus work?</a>
E-mail this answer Link to this answer

Numbers are represented and added together on the abacus by grouping beads together. To represent 155, five beads on the units wire are separated from the others on that wire, five beads on the tens wire, and one bead on the hundreds wire. To add 243 to 155, three more beads on the units wire are slid over to join the group of five, four more beads on the tens wire join the five there, and two more beads on the hundreds wire join the one there. The number 398 is now represented on the abacus.

Answer verified with
Get more facts and information about abacus . Or, view the full encyclopedia entry from The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.

Similar questions: How does one make values on an Abacus? How can you add on an abacus? [ Hide these questions ]

Related research questions

Related research articles

A LOW-TECH NAME WITH THE HIGH-TECH GAME ABACUS COMMUNICATIONS IS MAKING A...
Newspaper article from: The Virginian Pilot ...WRITER VIRGINIA BEACH -- Abacus Communications has a unique...because everybody else does,'' said Rick Clay...that's what Abacus does: It serves as an invisible...possible to eliminate work or paperwork. For a national...Our largest competitor does all of this over the fax...
Abacus counts on database's growth; BtoB Alliance unit expands rapidly, adding...
Magazine article from: B to B ...of its competitors, Abacus, the direct mail division...purchases-is helping Abacus gain ground in b-to...transactional data; it works better because it's...said. Credible names Abacus has been doing a major...Yes,'' he said. ``Does that make you a business...
Firm finds nirvana as its focus on the new-age market pays off; Abacus Wealth...
Magazine article from: Investment News ...Buddhist magazine Tricycle. Abacus Wealth Partners LLC is one firm that does, and its focus on a spiritually...even broader audience Abacus' other co-founder...Analytics Inc. While Abacus advisers spend only about...what's driving them to work so hard. It might be...
Abacus Arithmetic.(Brief Article)
Magazine article from: Appleseeds ...paper? Why not use your abacus? An abacus is an ancient...called a suanpan. How does a suanpan work? Columns of beads, which...the suanpan. How much does the customer owe? (Hint...that cost 16. How much does she owe you altogether...
Abacus.
Magazine article from: Restaurants & Institutions ...decade-long draw of Abacus, one of the brightest...running success, as does Rathbun's dedication...a vision hasn't kept Abacus from evolving. In early...of the restaurant is a work of art in itself. A wall...Rathbun is known among the Abacus team for his tenacious...
See all results at HighBeam

HighBeam gives you access to newspaper, magazine, and trade journal articles plus press releases, facts, information, and biographies from thousands of sources.