History Project 1
Fratesi 1
The Abacus
Alexis Fratesi
Professor Hobbs
Liberal Arts Math I
February 23, 2015
Fratesi 2
Alexis Fratesi
Professor Hobbs
Liberal Arts Math I
February 15, 2015 History of the Abacus
The abacus, often called the earliest calculating machine in the world, has a long history. The Abacus is a Latin word from the Greek origin word ‘Abax’, which means calculating table (Dictionary.com, 2015). The evolution of the Abacus is said to be dated back to three separate ages: Ancient Times, Middle Ages, and Modern Times (Bagley, 2003). The abacus was invented nearly 5000 years ago, by the Chinese in 500 BC (Browning, 2009). The original abacuses were stones plates covered in dust, Later this evolved into a slate with groves where rocks and other counters were placed (2012). It was made in a smaller size so it could be held and carried as needed. Through the decades the abacus has transformed into something completely different, it is now a structure with rods that run side to side, allowing the beads to be moved after counting. The original can be known as the first computer used to perform mathematical calculations.
The abacus was invented by the Chinese in c3000, but by c500 the abacus had spread and was eventually introduced in Europe (Browning, 2009). Today, the abacus is commonly known to be used as a form of calculation in many different countries. The most common abacus known today has beads that slide on rods. It can be used to count, add, subtract, multiply and
Fratesi 3 more (2014). It is split into two basic rows: the top row for the fives and the bottom row for the ones.
Abacus was one of the counting devices that was invented to count larger numbers that couldn’t be counted on hands and feet. The Evolution of the Abacus is divided into 3 time periods, Ancient times, Middle age and Modern Age (Bagley, 2003).
The Ancient age was one of the longer time periods for the use of the
The Abacus
Alexis Fratesi
Professor Hobbs
Liberal Arts Math I
February 23, 2015
Fratesi 2
Alexis Fratesi
Professor Hobbs
Liberal Arts Math I
February 15, 2015 History of the Abacus
The abacus, often called the earliest calculating machine in the world, has a long history. The Abacus is a Latin word from the Greek origin word ‘Abax’, which means calculating table (Dictionary.com, 2015). The evolution of the Abacus is said to be dated back to three separate ages: Ancient Times, Middle Ages, and Modern Times (Bagley, 2003). The abacus was invented nearly 5000 years ago, by the Chinese in 500 BC (Browning, 2009). The original abacuses were stones plates covered in dust, Later this evolved into a slate with groves where rocks and other counters were placed (2012). It was made in a smaller size so it could be held and carried as needed. Through the decades the abacus has transformed into something completely different, it is now a structure with rods that run side to side, allowing the beads to be moved after counting. The original can be known as the first computer used to perform mathematical calculations.
The abacus was invented by the Chinese in c3000, but by c500 the abacus had spread and was eventually introduced in Europe (Browning, 2009). Today, the abacus is commonly known to be used as a form of calculation in many different countries. The most common abacus known today has beads that slide on rods. It can be used to count, add, subtract, multiply and
Fratesi 3 more (2014). It is split into two basic rows: the top row for the fives and the bottom row for the ones.
Abacus was one of the counting devices that was invented to count larger numbers that couldn’t be counted on hands and feet. The Evolution of the Abacus is divided into 3 time periods, Ancient times, Middle age and Modern Age (Bagley, 2003).
The Ancient age was one of the longer time periods for the use of the
References: Gardner, M. (1996, January 1). Abacus and Its Relatives. Retrieved February 20, 2015, from http://www.cut-the-knot.org/blue/Abacus.shtml The History Of Abacus | Abacus And Its History. (2012, January 1). Retrieved February 20, 2015, from http://www.abacus-maths.com/abacus-history1.html Bagley, D. (2000, January 1). A Brief History of the Abacus. Retrieved February 20, 2015, from http://www.ee.ryerson.ca/~elf/abacus/history.html Browning, J. (2008, September 8). History of the Abacus. Retrieved February 23, 2015, from http://ezinearticles.com/?History-of-the-Abacus&id=2002451 Abacus. (2015, January 1). Retrieved February 23, 2015, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/abacus Little, C. (n.d.). The History and Use of the Abacus. Retrieved February 23, 2015, from http://ncta.osu.edu/lessons/china/math/Little-China.pdf