I’m sure most of us have a vague idea about how to use an abacus. You knock around beads back and forth to help you count, right? Something like that anyways.
In Japan, the abacus, or soroban (SO-ROW-BHAN) as it is called, is still in use. Until a few years ago, I’m told, they were quite common, regularly seen in banks, the post office, department stores, etc. Sometime in the 90s they started to disappear and now a pocket calculator is much more common. You will, however, still see them from time to time, usually in shops owned by older people.
They still teach soroban in the schools, too. It’s required in most elementary schools and optional in middle and high school. Most students hate it, but some really enjoy it. I’m told that people who can use it really well are faster than a calculator. Hard to believe? Watch the video, then decide.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIiDomlEjJw]
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That’s CRAZY!!!! Do the Japanese use the western number system like our 1,2,3s or are the numbers written differently. That blows my mind how a abacus that looks like baby toy can aid in crazy calculations. It’s only for adding and subtracting right?????
That’s CRAZY!!!! Do the Japanese use the western number system like our 1,2,3s or are the numbers written differently. That blows my mind how a abacus that looks like baby toy can aid in crazy calculations. It’s only for adding and subtracting right?????
They use the same arabic numbers we do, so it’s pretty similar.
And the abacus is good for pretty much any calculation. Division and multiplication are just repeated addition and subtraction, after all, and everything else just builds on those basics.
Crazy is right!
They use the same arabic numbers we do, so it’s pretty similar.
And the abacus is good for pretty much any calculation. Division and multiplication are just repeated addition and subtraction, after all, and everything else just builds on those basics.
Crazy is right!
The one kid employs a “mental” abacus? Dang, that kid has taken it to another level! Do you see anyone using them at your office building?
UT
The one kid employs a “mental” abacus? Dang, that kid has taken it to another level! Do you see anyone using them at your office building?
UT