Abacus Tutorial: 1 Basic function

Description: This film shows the basic functions of the classic Chinese abacus (5+2). Train your skills with the Mental Abacus app for Android (link below) or visit www.abakusen.se for more information.
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[@preciousangela2651]

When Corona Virus strikes, I choose to learn abacus! Yeay 2020! :P

[@hewhomakesnosound]

Same. I'm teaching myself new words from the dictionary and just got to 🧮 and was like I vague remember playing with this in elementary school and never seeing it again.

[@echungshitiri199]

How's the progress go far?

[@ifeellikeiwasborntoloveya6547]

how are you doing

[@ifeellikeiwasborntoloveya6547]

@@echungshitiri199 same question-

[@ifeellikeiwasborntoloveya6547]

if op has quit, this is a sign they should go back in track

[@LFSPharaoh]

Kind of disappointed they never taught me this in school. I'm kinda young, but getting rather close to 30 I suppose. Even my early private education that was way ahead of the public education didn't mention a word about it. The Abacus almost reminds me of roman numerals in a weird way, that I can't quite put words to. I think everyone should learn it at some point because it's a different way of thinking, calculating, visualizing etc. I feel those parts of the brain are almost never activated in schools. It's another way we can show and prove an objective reality, through abstraction.

[@dafoex]

Having looked at a few abacus videos just out of curiosity, I think the "4+1" style is exactly analogous to roman numerals. Starting at the rightmost column, each bottom bead is worth I (1) and the top bead is worth V (5), a column with three bottom beads and one top bead is worth VIII (8). Similarly for the next column, each bottom bead is worth X (10) and the top bead is worth L (50). The next column is C (100) and 500 (I can't recall the roman numeral for 500 off the top of my head, but by this point I'm sure you get the idea).

[@NopeSecret]

This is a waste of time to learn how to use.... just saying lol

[@wiwisjxkalnz]

​@@NopeSecretwhy?

[@rizzwan-42069]

​@@NopeSecretnot a waste of time while calculators exist this can still be used for education purposes like teaching different bases like binary dozenal hexadecimal seximal etc

[@iamhereblossom1588]

School will not teach you everything in the world. It is on the children to be curious to learn.

[@tjoseph5918]

I thought these were Chinese percussion instruments. So much for my "instrument" collection.

[@pinklady7184]

I have just last week ordered an abacus like this. I can't wait to use it. It is a pity that I had never learned abacus in schools.

[@mariemorganhenry9072]

I bought three of them 25 years ago for decoration because I remembered having one as a kid. Now I know how to use them. I am going to teach my three and two year old grand children how to count.

[@unidentifiable.individual]

I wouldn't say it's a pity. No one learns it because it's obsolete. There's no point.

[@Jorindeify]

@@unidentifiable.individual I wouldn't say that. Children in Singapore are able to do complicated additions etc. by heart because they practised it on the abacus. In Japan there are even competitions on abacus calculations.

[@malagebide]

This is an invention from China, which is said to be from other countries. Why are these people keen on stealing other people's culture

[@darnit1944]

​​@@unidentifiable.individual People who can calculate without calculator are quick thinkers. Plus abacus may be obsolete as a counting device, but calculators never taught you how to calculate.

[@hellespont5072]

Finally today I learned what an abacus actually does!

[@pellelindbla-lifeisbetteri4446]

+Bernie For The Future I´m happy for you. The abacus is magical ; )

[@lindblalasskrivutvecklinga2601]

+Bernie For The Future Happy to hear!

[@dorineratemo9574]

Me to i never knew

[@gorkemoncul6565]

@@pellelindbla-lifeisbetteri4446 Actually, Math is magical. Hi from 5 years after :D

[@piranhacupcake5154]

I saw an abacus being used to count in a comic book and became curious has to how they work. This was very well explained, I would now be able to use an abacus myself! Thank you for making this! :D

[@34Witchdoctor]

I watched director ton use one in aggretsuko. I actually really like this system!

[@Kyexoxo]

same

[@joetran5030]

When I was taught this as a little kid, we were given a table to learn it by heart... And I was told that for a male to succeed in business, one should be able to use the abacus with the left hand and write with the right hand...

[@kitsilanocat]

Joe Tran did you grow up in ancient Egypt or something?

[@tr4nsg0th1ca]

Since I write with my left hand, I work an abacus with my right. And I'm a mechanic, not a businessman... its surprising how well the abacus adapts to being used for engineering physics equations.

[@eldoritos5893]

Did you succeed in business?

[@thatsroughbuddy1407]

@@kitsilanocat No, 70s East Asia

[@Iknownothing896]

Now this is the kind of video tutorials that the world need, simple, short, full intented information deliver 👍. Great vid.

[@deefee701]

I've always wanted to learn about the Chinese style abacus.

[@mallisadubissette-munroe4438]

after trying to understand this for the last 2 hours, your video helped me in 3 mins...thanks

[@smithraymond09029]

Hot tip: DO NOT bump the abacus, lol.

[@johanheyneke1936]

I do it

[@JoeBieniecki]

Thanks for the simple and elegant explanation, very well done. Came here because I want to build a robotic calculator using arduino + servos, you enter the numbers on a "normal" calculator pad and the servos move the abacus beads to give your answer. Completely frivolous device but it will be fun to build : )

[@pellelindbla-lifeisbetteri4446]

Sounds really interesting. Could I have a try when you are ready?

[@fatiimaa9322]

Can you please tell me the difference between abacus with 13 columns and abacus with 5 columns

[@steveoommen6269]

So how did it go?

[@lindblalasskrivutvecklinga2601]

I also use a calculator but the abacus is a good tool for teaching the foundations of math. I also develops your thinking. A calculator don't.

[@fatiimaa9322]

Can you please tell me the difference between abacus with 13 columns and abacus with 5 columns

[@ValleysOfRain]

@@fatiimaa9322 the number of columns an abacus has simply denotes the maximum number it can achieve. A 5 column abacus maxes out at 99,999. A 13 column abacus stops 1 short of 10 trillion.

[@abdulhaseeb1817]

Very simple but effective video. Thank you, just what I was looking for sir.

[@peachfreude]

Im happy that I finally able to understand how this thing works. Thank you, mister! That was a wonderful explanation.

[@pellelindbla-lifeisbetteri4446]

Happy to have been able to help!

[@wills9627]

this way better than the any modern elctrictronic calculator, i wish i was taught that at school,

[@airliner7478]

This man has answered one of life's greatest mysteries...

[@douglashaner6802]

I am 52 and remember using a smaller type in 1st grade.

[@abdumalikmustapha4689]

I'm amazed that the binary system is so similar to an abacus... we live in a world where millions abacuses count themselves, and are just large enough to fit in our palms.

[@pellelindbla-lifeisbetteri4446]

+Abdumalik Mustapha Yeah. The abacus is fascinating. I also use it to explain the binary system. Then I just take a pliers and split the beads so I i can take them away. I leave 2 beads on every rod. It works great!

[@1337flite]

All postional numbering systems are similar to the abacus. Postional numbering systems use colums to represent multiples of the base number. E.g. in the "normal" base 10 system the columns represent hundreds, tens and units etc and you change columns (carry) when you reach the base value, e.g. in base 10 (i..e. decimal or :"normal" numbers) you carry when a colum reachees ten. It could be adapted to binary (base 2) octal (base8) and ehxadecimal (base 16) numbers, although hex would make for a larger abacus. It's really sad that so many people don't understand the idea of positional numbers even for the everyday common decimal system. Understanding that makes arithmetic so much more intiutive and so much faster. I think ore people would actuaklly enjoy math if they understood the basic numbering system.

[@Atheistic007]

Analog computer. It works 24/7 and never needs an update. Win.

[@mojoNoodlz]

The double beads in the top row are used for base 16 calculations. 2 top beads plus 5 bottom beads adds to 15 and no beads for the zero, the 16 values in the base 16 system. Think old days before metric system and things like pounds and ounces.

[@Grunfeld]

Thank you. The mention of "complementary numbers" at 0:45 (on the other 4+1 type abacus) was, for me, so illuminating. How have I not seen that? And that error of perception was behind my struggles to perform subtraction on that abacus. So simple when you see it. 👍👍🙂

[@rajafranklinakurathi3952]

Can you explain pls..

[@dang25272549]

On 2022 this tutorial still useful to me , Thanks so much.

[@flippersthedolphin]

Thank you for this tutorial! I have been struggling to find a good tutorial for a Chinese abacus.

[@user-ds7dx5dh9j]

In daily life,It is more useful and less expensive than an electronic calculator except for school students.

[@stevenkelty8025]

I love the mental abacus app and would like to see a set of complementary videos for the modern abacus to explain different functions. A left handed option in the settings would be nice also.

[@lindblalasskrivutvecklinga2601]

+Steven Kelty Happy that you like the app. In the app there are films to show how you use the modern 1+4. Go to the book symbol in the upper right corner. It will open a menu. There you find the videos. In settings you can choose between classic and modern abacus

[@kayeninetwo3585]

Thank you for a straightforward approach to understanding the abacus. The other youtube video from "HEV Project" was rambling and vague...the presenter didn't have a structured presentation style. A minute and a half into his video and you still didn't know what an abacus was or what it was used for. They disabled the comments over at that video for obvious reasons.

[@eggyolk8067]

A game called Untitled Door Game in Roblox asked me to search up on how to use an Abacus. Found this very useful thank you

[@mikenorman7233]

My cell phone has this cool feature it also lets me call your mom

[@CriispyWaffle]

😭😭??

[@demise234]

Thank you I have had my 'chinese' abacus for twenty years and been using it incorrectly. Now I get it.

[@lindblalasskrivutvecklinga2601]

+demise234 Nice!

[@gammondog]

Thanks. I am familiar with the 1 by 4 soroban and didn't know how the the "extra" beads came into play.

[@tarzanjane9440]

Now i kmow how abacus uses. I have that one butvi dont know how to use. Thank you. 💕

[@CanariasCanariass]

Hi! It's so simple yet I never learned this anywhere. Thank you for this video

[@pellelindbla-lifeisbetteri4446]

Hi. I also use the modern abacus when I count. But when I teach beginners I use the 5+2 to start with. That way they get a jump start without having to learn the so called complemetary numbers. After a while students many times start to calculate without using "exchange" and instead use the "short, fast way". At that time I present the modern abacus. Then the students really feel that they have made progress!

[@DarkAngel-fk3hx]

THANK YOU SO MUUUCH! I am going to ask my mom to buy me an abacus. thanks for teaching us

[@paolamunoz1833]

I made my own with an old picture frame, hair beads and bamboo sticks 🍡

[@bensheather1187]

Thank you so much! Needed to read an abacus for a test and I had no idea! this helped me so much! Thanks again!

[@Layla-sy3wv]

Thank you for sharing this, I just received my first abacus through the mail and am exited to try it

[@abdullahalfahim4248]

Thank you very much from Bangladesh 🇧🇩❤️🌹

[@iknowyouknowleeknow2485]

Here I am. It’s 3:00 am right now and I’m suddenly wanting to learn how to use Abacus

[@AnthonyFrancisJones]

Excellent! Bought one in HK many years ago and you make it look really easy!

[@PrithwirajSen-nj6qq]

Nothing but place value addition 235=200+30+5 (take from the lower portion of third row 2 beads : third row lower portion each bead is 100 3 beads from lower portion of second row is 30: lower portion second row each bead is 10 The first row upper portion each bead is 5

[@pellelindbla-lifeisbetteri4446]

Thank´s for the kind comment ; ) Pelle

[@cyberflow253]

Amazing explanation right there, concise and precise!

[@sruthybijukumar4235]

Found it really helpful and easy to understand. Thank you!

[@kumustapo9520]

AW... I'VE SEEN THIS THING WHEN I WAS IN KINDER AND DAYCARE. HENCE, THEY DON'T TEACH US TO USE THAT THING.. BUT WITH THE HELP OF THIS VIDEO, I KNOW NA HOW TO USE THAT THING. AND MAYBE IF MY MOM WILL BECOME A TEACHER AT DAYCARE, I'LL TEACH SOME STUDENT TO USE THIS AT THE EARLY STAGE. THANK YOU

[@lhu0972]

First time watching a video on how it works and I already somewhat understand how it works!

[@TahitianBlissMeeBee]

so far the most explanatory for me- thank you!

[@cedricantunes4600]

I want one so badly now... Nice video!

[@scottautoprep94]

One of the hardest and most complicated things you could learn

[@pennynelkin9721]

Idk if anyone else knows this, but this is how you become a human calculator, if you start at a young age you can learn to do any problem crazy fast.

[@CastleHassall]

thanks, it was very useful to hear you explain this

[@josephgaviota]

Thank you for this short and clear explanation.

[@PhuongNguyen-jb5qb]

Thanks, nice video. I ' d like to know if you have a video showing how to do the multiplication and the division. Thanks again.

[@BRasaq]

Thank you so much. There is Abacus calculation in one of ACCA unit module. I have been struggling for a day now. Thanks for the video 👍👍👍👍👍🤗

[@monikanaholo1195]

Hi, I am here because I am stuck on that question. What is the correct answer?

[@BRasaq]

Hi, sorry I can't remember the answer I did this last August. But I think is are 100 +. Try and listen to the video you will get the logic.

[@monikanaholo1195]

@@BRasaq thank you. I did manage to get the answer.

[@BRasaq]

Glad you found the answer

[@keithjohnson5190]

I am learning the Japanese and the Chinese abacus. I am doing subtraction and addition on both and have to agree that the Chinese abacus is easier. The Japanese has little friends and big friends and the boss, but once you start to learn it it get easier and they should teach this in school as it would help the children to learn. Nice video but too short.

[@GOLDEditNinja]

This was an awesome tutorial my friend. cheers.

[@sallywong7309]

wow, great instruction video. much appreciated..

[@salammeanspeace.]

This is a device someone can use without even having it just by imagining

[@potatogonyes7730]

I remember in my childhood using an abacus in the wrong way and pretending to control the world. Each time I move a ball, something in the world "changes" and I can "decide" what I want to change.

[@vicki2548]

Good morning, I am searching for abacus turtorials on KZbin and found this tutorial the clearest. The movements are clear and the English is clear. Where do I find further tutorials by Lindbla ?

[@zossss]

i had an abacus in like 1st grade cus the school i went to at the time im pretty sure taught us how to use one, then i joined a comp for it, dont remember much but im pretty sure i performed horribly, i have since then lost that abacus but i wanna relearn it just for fun and im just gonna do it with an imaginary abacus lmao

[@c0zzar0ner0]

I have an ancient abacus (it belonged to my father, that he bought from a chinese man, it is in ebony and ivory), but I did not know how to use it. Thanks for this video.

[@pellelindbla-lifeisbetteri4446]

+c0zzar0ner0 Hi. Sounds like you have a really unique abacus. Happy that I could give you some guidance on how to use it. //Pelle Lindbla

[@Despotic_Waffle]

ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony

[@tranthaibaonguyenoss198]

I used to learn this like 6years ago that's was when I was 6 now I can't seem to remember how it work anymore.

[@jasonmarkson3773]

Great video, very clear and easy to understand. Tak.

[@pellelindbla-lifeisbetteri4446]

Happy you liked it!

[@ReemoTsukiyomi]

Thanks for the explanation, Sir!

[@Jaystah2]

Such a clearly explained video, thank you!

[@interesting_knight1161]

I am here because the teacher said no calculator

[@dareabdulwasiu3753]

Thanks for the explanation...Awesome!!!

[@chrisbcritter6112]

This is why the Japanese "1-4" abacus makes better sense than the Chinese "2-5" one shown. On the Chinese, one Five bead and five One beads equal ten, two Five beads equal ten, and one Ten bead equals ten. With the Japanese, only one Ten bead equals ten. And they're cheaper to make, as they use fewer beads. It's more like our Arabic numerals, one in the Tens place and zero in the Ones place.

[@robloxrats2742]

Woah this is from 2013. Is anyone here from 2020

[@pellelindbla-lifeisbetteri4446]

No these are the only one. I have a plan to do a complete course this year but this is only a plan so far.

[@RushyJam]

@@pellelindbla-lifeisbetteri4446 Do it this year please! We just started 2021! We want to learn something in lockdown :)

[@ixchelssong]

Near the end of 2021 here! ✌ 😂

[@salvadorperez4934]

Broo that’s cool very interesting…. I always wonder how tf do they use those things

[@ABCTubeTV]

thank you so

[@nigellestephens1843]

we had this in elementary. its just that i was not interested then. now i have two kids im trying to re learn it so i can teach my kids.

[@pellelindbla-lifeisbetteri4446]

Thanks a lot!

[@josiahfleming7549]

I have gone 23 years without knowing how an abacus works... I cannot believe I have done so. Now I understand how heartbreaking it was when Tintin smashed the abacus.

[@JerryWoo96]

normally i use the top bar of each section as counted so i can reset the abacus easily just but tilting.

[@3bcgy16]

Thank you!

[@apha55]

Growing up I saw my mom using this, but never tried it myself.

[@keithkent6275]

The second topbead seems pointless. As soon as it's needed it returned in favour of the next columns one bead. Unless of course you wanted to count to fifteen in one column

[@iansteel6403]

I'm very confused as to why there are two beads on the top if they are just automatically being converted to one lower bead in the next column. It seems like a superfluous action that slows you down compared to the other method?

[@lauradorris3496]

Thank you for such a neat video demonstrating how to use an Abacus.

[@iamtomkills]

This was brilliant. Great video.

[@ArnoldPranks]

Who else saw those Japanese kids documentary, going at it at 10 million miles an hour, to see how it's really done

[@cerium58]

Thanks! I always wanted to learn how

[@daveh9551]

They used these back in the ancient and some present for high volume trade

[@letshuman8985]

This seems a lot easier to use than the Japanese soroban.

[@jordanfebish8494]

Why were the rods on the very left moved out of the line? This confused me a lot, but great starter video. ;)

[@pellelindbla-lifeisbetteri4446]

Hi The rods where moved out in order to zoom in on the rods that where active when counting. Nice that you liked the film. I also have Mental Abacus app for Android (and soon for iPad/iPhone)

[@jordanfebish8494]

Pelle Lindblå THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[@vicki2548]

please forget my comment. I have now found the further tutorials by Lindlby.

[@memecyn]

I already know what an abacus does, but I don't know how to use it 😬. Now I do.

[@wellesradio]

I learned the soroban with an app. It’s a 4x1. I don’t understand why someone would want to use the classic 5x2. It seems inferior.

[@cameronellem7144]

I have one question, should I practice with the old style abacus for the new style Abacus if I want to do mental calculations?

[@NikolajLepka]

the extra beads seem really unnecessary, why not just do the exchange directly?

[@vicki2548]

Mr Lindbla, which complementary books would you recommend for learning abacus ? thank you

[@cattrainer2442]

I learnt how to use abacus at last

[@elvarwinston]

It seems that almost everybody prefers the Asian version of the abacus and almost all the YT videos resolve around that too, but nobody really talks about the Russian style or the 10 row abacus? i wonder why that is?

[@coachken6130]

Oh my goodness! No thank you! But after watching a video on math using Roman numerals, this looks way simpler. Can you imagine math with MCLXVI instead of numbers?

[@MissPiggyM976]

Very clear , thanks !

[@sweetangel1814]

Fanx for the explanation 😀

[@angieanahidiaz1009]

u explained this a lot better thank u so much