Category: General

25 Jun 2023 11:22

Joined:	10/12/2016
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Points:	109183

Points:	10

Does learning Abacus help small children to understand basic mathematical calculations?

Abacus is an age-old calculating device that is still used in some pre-schools or elementary schools for making children learn mathematical additions, substractions, multiplications, etc. Before the advent of algebra and other branches of Mathematics, Abacus was very popular and many variations and versions were made by experts in different countries.

Basically, an Abacus has 10 wires on which small beads can be moved. Each wire has 10 beads. There are some versions where the number of wires is more. By sliding the beads a number can be represented and using some methods many arithmetic operations can be done.

It is said that teaching Abacus to small kids improves their analytical power, especially in Mathematics subjects. I have seen some school coaching institutes offering Abacus courses for children. Have you got any experience or specific information about Abacus or Abacus learning courses? Please share.

#773918

25 Jun 2023 11:39

Joined:	25/11/2014
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No, I have not gone through this Abacus apparatus in my study sessions in the schools. But one thing is sure that our Mathematics Teacher in our primary classes stressed the need of memorising tables up to forty without fail so that no delay would be there in our multiplication process. Of course, cramming tables up to forty has helped us considerably.
Applying wire method as indicated by the author will surely help them in learning Abacus apart from making them funny with their play in such wires. Creativity would definitely boost if the teaching faculties take enough pain in course of teaching.

#773922

25 Jun 2023 13:27

Joined:	02/06/2009
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Points:	145594

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The abacus is also known as the counting frame. It is a tool to make counting, It is in use from ancient times, I understand. China, Europe and some other countries used this tool in the beginning I understand. In India, it was used during the 2nd century.
I understand the method of using this abacus but never used it when I was in school. But later on, I have seen the tool and used it also to understand it. But these days nobody is using the same I think. Even mathematical tables and logarithmic tables are also outdated now. A scientific calculator will do everything for us.

drrao
always confident

#773930

26 Jun 2023 00:29

Joined:	09/08/2012
Level:	Gold
Points:	10991

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Abacus - although I have heard and read in many places that it is a very effective and efficient tool in learning the basic skills of mathematics and was used in ancient China for Calculation. Although I have played with it but haven't used it for learning purposes so don't have personal experience in that sense when I saw it for the first time as a kid I found it fascinating to play with beads attached to the wires I did not know its use nor did anybody told me when I saw it and after many many years I found it what it was actually.
The kind of fascination I felt as a kid seeing it I guess it definitely will be helpful if used with the proper techniques for which it is meant.

"It is hardest thing in the world to be good thinker without being a good self examiner"

Does learning Abacus help small children to understand basic mathematical calculations?

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