MHB [ASK] Can Abacus be Used to Multiply Two Single Digits?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Monoxdifly
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
An abacus, specifically the Chinese suanpan, can be used for multiplication, but there is a debate about its effectiveness for multiplying two single-digit numbers. Many resources focus on multiplication involving larger numbers, leading to confusion about its application for single digits. Some sources suggest that students must memorize multiplication tables to use the abacus effectively for this purpose. Additionally, the discussion raises the question of whether the abacus can also be used for division of single-digit numbers. Overall, while the abacus is primarily designed for addition, its use in multiplication and division remains a topic of inquiry.
Monoxdifly
MHB
Messages
288
Reaction score
0
Can an abacus (by abacus here I mean suanpan, the Chinese abacus) be used to do multiplication of two single digit numbers? Like 4 x 8, 7 x 5, 9 x 7, etc. I have been Googling around but all of them only show multiplication with either one or more number have more than one digit. One source even states that an abacus can't be used to multiply a single digit number with another single digit number and students must memorize the multiplication table to be able to multiply using abacus. This is weird to me, if abacus was built to make people count easier and it helps with addition, which is the simplest math operation, why to be able to multiply with abacus you have to memorize the multiplication table, in which multiplication is more complicated than addition?
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Hi Monoxdifly,

I found this page that might be helpful! :)
 
Yes, I also have found it. By the way, can abacus be used to count divisions of two single digit numbers, for example, 8:2?
 

Thread 'Non-orthogonal bases'

Suppose ,instead of the usual x,y coordinate system with an I basis vector along the x -axis and a corresponding j basis vector along the y-axis we instead have a different pair of basis vectors ,call them e and f along their respective axes. I have seen that this is an important subject in maths My question is what physical applications does such a model apply to? I am asking here because I have devoted quite a lot of time in the past to understanding convectors and the dual...
View full post »

Thread 'Fermat's Last Theorem'

Fermat's Last Theorem has long been one of the most famous mathematical problems, and is now one of the most famous theorems. It simply states that the equation $$ a^n+b^n=c^n $$ has no solutions with positive integers if ##n>2.## It was named after Pierre de Fermat (1607-1665). The problem itself stems from the book Arithmetica by Diophantus of Alexandria. It gained popularity because Fermat noted in his copy "Cubum autem in duos cubos, aut quadratoquadratum in duos quadratoquadratos, et...
View full post »

Thread 'What Exactly is Dirac’s Delta Function? - Insight'

Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In Dirac’s Principles of Quantum Mechanics published in 1930 he introduced a “convenient notation” he referred to as a “delta function” which he treated as a continuum analog to the discrete Kronecker delta. The Kronecker delta is simply the indexed components of the identity operator in matrix algebra Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-exactly-is-diracs-delta-function/ by...
View full post »

Similar threads

I What is the role of geometry and dimensional operations?
Replies
3
Views
2K
I Karatsuba multiplication implementation question
Replies
3
Views
2K
MHB How Many Numbers Less Than 1000 Divisible by 5 Are Formed Using Unique Digits?
Replies
1
Views
1K
B How to handle significant digits of exact values?
Replies
12
Views
2K
MHB How many possible 7-place license plates are there with 3 letters and 4 digits?
Replies
1
Views
3K
I Alternating Harmonic Numbers are cool, spread the word!
Replies
4
Views
2K
MHB Find the Two-Digit Number: Exceeds by 4 and 1 Less Than Twice the Units Digit
Replies
3
Views
3K
Seeking a reasonable mathematical explanation to a simple mathematical conundrum
Replies
3
Views
1K
B What would you call this sample?
Replies
9
Views
2K
A method of mental multiplication
Replies
6
Views
6K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top