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

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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
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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?
 
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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?
 

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