I like to say the name out loud. Abacus.
But every time I hear its name, I am thrust back to my early grade school years when I was first introduced to the abacus.
But first. What exactly is an abacus?
I’m here to tell you.
It is a tool. A tool of calculation. The abacus is also called a counting frame. This thing has been used since ancient times in the ancient Near East, Europe, China, and Russia.
It is a funny-looking contraption. We can use one by sliding counters along rods or grooves, and in doing so, we can perform mathematical functions. Things such as calculating the basic functions of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. But the abacus can calculate square and cubic roots too.
I say, “we can use one.” I don’t mean “we.” I mean somebody, somewhere.
Here’s some more important history. Our number system didn’t always exist. It originated with the Hindu-Arabic number system, was invented in India in the 6th or 7th century, and introduced to Europe in the 12th century. It is that glorious set of numerals — those ten symbols — 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 — that represent numbers in the decimal number system.
Before the number system, people counted with their fingers and even their toes. Then, as even larger quantities were counted, people picked up small, easy-to-carry items such as pebbles, sea shells, and twigs to add up sums. I’m not sure how this worked without names for numbers, but perhaps it was all just representational.
Anyway. Merchants who traded goods needed a better way to keep count of the many goods they bought and sold. And with that, the abacus was invented to help the counting of large numbers in ancient times.
It was first used by the Babylonians as early as 2,400 B.C.
The abacus was used in Europe, China, and Russia, centuries before the adoption of the written Hindu-Arabic numeral system.
The slide rule came along much later, but it was eventually put out of business by the electronic calculator.
These days people rely on calculators on their computers and cell phones.
Which brings me back to grade school. It was introduced to us in the classroom as a counting tool of olden times. But no one really knew how it worked. I know because I asked the teacher. The answer was something like, “They would slide the beads to keep count and perform calculations.” I remember thinking that I could have guessed that much, but how?
We had another abacus on display in high school. I asked the same question. “How does it work?” Again. Different teacher. Same answer.
I’m sure there might be a person somewhere who knows how one actually works. The Abacus Wizard. Maybe I already know people who have this skill, but I am unaware of their hidden talent.
Again, I am amazed at the history of our world. Like the invention of our number system. And prior to that, people’s ability to construct a tool to help them in their counting.
All the things around us had to be invented at one time or another. The breadth of this is incredible. People have been amazing in their innovations. And they will continue to go on this way.
I’m pretty sure you can count on it.
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Counting fingers doesn’t make us mathematicians.
― Munia Khan
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If I were again beginning my studies, I would follow the advice of Plato and start with mathematics.
— Galileo Galilei
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If a man’s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics.
— Francis Bacon
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Count on it.
