Mathematically challenged? Could you be an abacist?

Are you mathematically challenged? I am and have always been fascinated by the abacus (also called the counting frame). So I thought my research into the world of these lovely little beads would somehow make math less scary. Soft little beads vs. numbers on a calculator, it has to be kinder, right? Not so much. Interestingly enough, the abacus does not actually do the math. RATS. It helps the person keep track of the numbers as THEY do the computing. So, this sounds like more math to me. More confusion. If you are a hands on learner- you may want to try the electronic version, play here. If you want to be really amazed- and watch kids as human caluclators - check out this visual tutorial, here on you tube. Wow.

But knowing how things function is always intersting. And maybe you want to be pedantic at the next party. So if you find yourself at one of those awkward command holiday functions, how about dazzling the crowd with some interesting facts about the abacus....First, place your hand on your chin. Give your head a quirky 30 degree nod, squint your eyes a bit and say.....Did you know:

1. It was used centuries before the written numerical system. That's old.

2. Merchants and traders from Asia, Africa, and India still use the abacus.

3. It's pronounced ab-a-cus. Say that thirteen times after a few spiked egg-nogs.

4. It was originally invented by the Chinese in 3000 BC. Jesus must have been proud.

5. The "bead slider" can conveniently be labeled as an "abacist". That sounds nothing short of formidable. Try that as a facebook title.

6. If you want to see it "live" go for sushi at Su-Su-Soon (the cashier is a bead slider). Amazing.

So if you've got bored kids that are off a few weeks this holiday season- put them up to a challenge.

Here it goes:

1. Find all of the yen change that you can (under car seat, bottom of purse, pretty much everywhere- especially those pesky 1 cent bendable coins). Don't they seem fake?

2. Line them up in numerical order.

3. Count how much money on the abacus.

4. If you are successful- you are an accomplished abacist! Now that's a bumper sticker for your family van.

Comments

[Dasha Gariepy]

Way cool! For further learning fun, there is an awesome system called "Chisenbop" that utilizes fingers as placemarkers much like the beads on an abacus. Using this method it's possible to multiply incredibly large numbers using only the fingers on your hands! Since I can't add a link in comments, interested parties will just have to google it. Don't everybody rush at once... :P

[Iko]

When I lived in Osaka I actually took abacus (soroban in Japanese) lessons once a week. I totally suck at anything math related but found using the abacus for math problems to be very simple, I impressed even myself. I know there are abacus 'schools' on Okinawa but not sure of English language availabilty. From memory there are also competations and official qualifications that one can do to!

[Joelle]

I learned the abacus when I lived in China YEARS ago. I LOVE it. One of the things it's really helpful with is teaching kids (and adults) about place value (1s, 10s, 100s) and breaking numbers down by 5s. There are also a lot of fun tricks you learn... like adding 6+6+6+6 (which is the same "hand movement" on the abacus) and eventually you end up with this really cool design on the abacus... I know I sound nerdy.

[Liz Miller]

Anyone out there know what concepts this could teach a child? I am wondering if this would be something I could get my two daughters involved in.
Anyone currently know this?

[Joelle]

Liz, as I mentioned above, it's great for place value. But it's also good for teaching the concept of blocking 5's & 10s. For instance, you learn a lot about what "makes up" 10. Meaning that 7+3 and 2+8 and 4+6 all make 10. You will see that in the beads. So it's great for that kind of thing... hope that helps!