Ancient Abacus Math Tool Used in Modern Times

The Abacus provides countable beads for children to visualize numbers on a base-10 system. The children learn Abacus Math by operating those beads to perform arithmetic calculations such as addition and division.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Greek word ‘abax’, meaning “calculating board” or “calculating table”.

Chinese Invention

The first Chinese Abacus was invented around 500 B.C. The Abacus, as we know it today, was used in China around 1300 A.D.

Usage

It is still commonly used today across certain Asian communities.

First Computer

Often referred to as the first computer, the Abacus is an instrument used to add, subtract, multiply and divide, to calculate fractions and square roots.

What is Visual Math?

Visual math is the essential building block that replaces the physical Abacus in the child’s mind. As the children gradually learn to visualise the Abacus in their mind (virtual Abacus), they learn to calculate mathematical problems using the principles of the Abacus, without the use of the physical tool.