AbacusMaster Canada
AbacusMaster Canada aims to equip children across Canada with top-quality abacus math skills. Our programs train students to carry out mental arithmetic calculations by making use of both the analytic and creative sides of their brains.
What is Mental Arithmetic?
Mental arithmetic involves mentally performing arithmetic calculations (i.e. addition, subtraction, multiplication and division), without the use of a pen and paper or gadgets.
What is an Abacus?
An abacus is a simple tool used to perform rapid arithmetic calculations that was invented thousands of years ago. An abacus consists of a rectangular frame with a number of vertically arranged rods, each with a number of beads that can freely slide up and down. The beads, rods and movements of said beads, represent numbers, place values, and various arithmetic calculations, respectively.
What is Abacus Math?
The Abacus Math technique is an ingenious method for rapidly doing mental arithmetic that has existed for thousands of years. First, students learn to represent numbers and solve arithmetic problems on an abacus, by moving its beads. Subsequently, they learn to mentally visualize said movements of beads in their own unique ways. Using an abacus is a unique method of calculation that allows for immense speed even with large numbers involved. Thus, it is widely taught in child development programs, in many countries even today, to maximize children’s creative and logical capabilities
Parts of an Abacus
- Frame: An abacus has a rectangular frame.
- Beam: A horizontal bar divides the frame.
- Rods: The abacus we use at AbacusMaster Canada has 17 vertical “rods”. Each rod has a total of 5 beads.
- Upper beads: Each vertical rod has one bead above the beam. These are called the “upper beads” or the “heaven beads”.
- Lower beads: Each rod has four beads below the beam. These are called the “lower beads” or the “earth beads”.