Interactive Abacus Simulator

This simple Java based simulator is a good way to introduce you to the art of counting beats on a Chinese Abacus. The default numeric representation of the number: 61,006,682 - which is Educalc.net on abacus logo it is also our office telephone number.  You can click on the beat to see this value changes.

This is a clickable Abacus

Lesson 1:

Reset to zero by pushing the heaven beads (top) upwards and earth bead (bottom) downwards.

Lesson 2:

On the extreme right column, move the earth beads - start with 1, then 2 and so on till 5.  Then move the heaven beads down 1, which is 5 and then move the earth beads back to zero position - it again showed 5.  This last procedure is known as carry-over and reset.

Lesson 3:

Heaven beads down 1, and earth beads up 1, represents 6. Continue moving the earth bead up 7, 8, 9, 10.  Carry forward to by move the 2 heaven beads down and reset the earth bead to zero.  Now move 2nd column from the right, the earth bead up 1, this represents 10 and reset the 2 heaven bead on the extreme right to zero.

Proper finger technique is paramount in achieving proficiency on the abacus. With a Chinese abacus, the thumb and the index finger together with the middle finger are used to manipulate the beads. Beads in lower deck are moved up with the thumb and down with the index finger. In certain calculations, the middle finger is used to move beads in the upper deck.