Abacus is portable device that consists of beads strung on wires or wooden rods. Using an abacus one can rapidly and accurately add, subtract, multiply or divide large numbers. No one is sure about exactly when the first abacus appeared. Historians agree though, that this device appeared between 2000 and 5000 years ago and that it had its origin in ancient China, Egypt and Greece. Abacus is still used in some parts of the world today.
Abacus has two parts divided by a mid bar. The part above the mid bar is called heaven and each bead has a value equal to 5. The part below the mid bar is called earth and each bead on earth has a value equal to 1. While calculating, the beads are brought near to the mid bar.
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