The Abacus - How to Use This Ancient Wonder

[jobo9173]

my teacher said this was the first computer i mean from the word compute, and it was made on for over 500 years ago.

[HeyItsAni]

i got lost once he said "HERE"

[GoldfishLight]

abacus is chinese, right? Am I even close?

[KSonNS]

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ooooooooooo at first i was like wtf but now i understand how its read,sick,i should of asked for one for christmas

[gromhell1234]

1+1 = 2

no abacus

no calculator,

just pure brains, im a genius i know it..i feel it , u jelly ?

[CBMaster2]

@gromhell1234 are you trying to be funny ? because it's not working

[Cortake]

id drop school.

[Borednesss]

Uhhh 9,999.99 + 1 is 10,000.99 not 10,000.00 lol

[sonofLellan]

@Borednesss 9999.99 + 0.01

[chaoshart]

its so ahrd to follow

[jasperpinkful1]

This helped me with my kill/death ratio. YEAH!!

[AdvocatusMortis]

watch?v=wIiDomlEjJw&feature=g-­all-f&context=G2cdd788FAAAAAAA­AAAA

[rEsonansDx]

what the heck,, i thought i was free from hexadecimals

[AlexLong1000]

...............

OR I could use a calculator.

[brenoakiy]

@AlexLong1000 or you could practice with this and develop an "internal abacus"

no more calculators :)

[Kell19kell]

I finally get... A little dizzy but I get it!

[LordZarkoff]

I built my own abacus with the wifes anal beads

[shadowrao1]

@LordZarkoff yeah...cuz math is for assholes right?! =P

[MJLatora]

My head hurts.

[Ladomer7388]

This just blew my mind.

[stretch4859]

the first Abacus dated back to Babylon 300 BC, atleast that is what I read in The Math Book by Clifford A Pickover, but according to Wikipedia the first was dated back to 2700 - 2300 BC the Sumerian Abacus.

[divinedsnow]

i Now know how to use Ancient Wonder XD

[MegaFlamed]

WDF.... Couldn't you start with smaller numbers?

Didn't understand shit......

[sacred8510]

amazing! thank you for making this video, now i can make calculations using that thing :D

[mayergenuiseprincess]

hard to understand;so fast you should begin with small numbers

[iamTaToshKa]

too hard to understand(((

[CH33Z8URGR]

319 people cant use an abacus

[TheDandude234]

whats the point of this u still have to think

[rann82]

big thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­annnnnnnnnnnnnx



[ethanolwon200]

800 yrs old and what culture?

[saifulalam1]

Awesome

[survivaltime1]

23 people got bored

[Flextones]

I love this because you learn why the operation works and you understand place value. I don't think they use zero in the Asian systems. They did not take a place holder into account. This is a counting system so there is no zero.

[scar504]

can a abacus divide by zero???

[MrsVegascrush]

Thanks for ploading thisn gorgeous vid RetroCalculators!

*****

We want more of these ! .-))

[darkangel5885]

chinese abacus is the confusing part

[callmeshane303]

I thought that the heaven bead was on the bottom, at rest, ans on the top when used, for the simple reason that "resetting" involves holding the frame vertically, so all the beads slide to the bottom...

[HoSayLiaoLah]

The Chinese abucus allows the pChinese to count up to 99 billlions, not quite useful if they want calculate the US debt.

[clflem02]

Thanks for teaching me how to use an abacus!

[RALsyatyou]

WOW! Thanks for teaching!!

[Austinlovesedd]

Japanese are always better...



[mupp33n]

The asians who use these can do any number you throw at them in under 5 seconds.

[999justforfun]

As you see Japanese abacus is in Decimal base, so you can read the result strait on abacus as majority of people is accustomed to.

The Chinese abacus does operation in Hex, so the result must be converted to decimal from Hex number.

[51fe]

@999justforfun the Chinese one can do both

[Horinius]

@999justforfun

Well, not exactly. They don't need to convert any result from hexadecimal to decimal, because they're calculating values of measures (ie weight).

Actually, having one more bead on top and on the bottom is also very practical. You could leave the extra bead "on" to show that there's a need to "carry over" but you don't have to remember it.

[999justforfun]

As you see Japanese abacus is in Decimal base, so you can read the result strait on abacus as majority of people is accustomed to.

The Chinese abacus does operation in Hex, so the result must be converted to decimal from Hexnumber.

[clarkemenn]

easy?



[Lbmartin9]

tnx

[mugg99]

waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much info for 5:49. I need to watch this another 5 times at least to understand what just happened. I work at a bank so its always interesting to understand different, yet basic methods of counting.

[Ali704]

It's like going backward with the technology when seeing this! although it is good to know how things works but we have enough info and technology to be updated with!!!

[dtothelu]

That's tiny

[lionlamb7777]

Thanks!

[rscrspytrt]

Is there an app for this?

[RadiantStudios]

@rscrspytrt a billionz..

[ApharHa]

@rscrspytrt Calculator?

[07romisa1]

Great

[BloodyAngel368]

I still can't understand how to used a abacus? :(

[rustflekk]

23 significant figures is quite a bit; you couldn't saturate the soroban by doing the accounting for a whole country. So was that really an ancient form of the M+/MR/MC on todays' calculators?

[Maqsimous]

That is so cool

[Iam18yearsolddddd]

wtf? I love my calculator

[muffaweeza]

Thanks! I've always wondered how they work. Good explanation.

[throwmeaname]

you are awesome

[Esfeurell]

But will it blend?

[Silkie341]

I've seen demonstrations of people using this and doing some fairly complex maths at speeds to equal or even beat an electronic calculator. It renews your faith in the human brain which can be handy if you make the mistake of watching TV these days.

[tybash]

is there a calculator for this?

[omier2]

but will it blend?

[Shiroach]

Why use an abacus, when we have computers, a genius of invention. Standing RIGHT in front of us.

[JuniorX]

@Shiroach Why not grow as a person, make better use of brain cells, become more intelligent and wise? I don't make decisions based on what a computer tells me, so I prefer having a healthier and smarter brain to do that for me, and the abacus is an awesome tool. That's one of the reasons why most asians are good at math.

[MrsVegascrush]

The Abacus is a Chinese invention, " Suan Pan "! ^^°^^

I still can remember my Grandma and many other business people using them...

They were /are smart at it! Their fingers moving soo fast and calculated to correctly!^^ ^^ ^^ unbelievable!... *****

[Mangostine1]

@MrsVegascrush

Decimal　ｓｙｓtem abacus is a Japanese invention.

Chinese type is hexadecimal system.

[doitdt1]

i want tech it

[tim154154]

your voice is anoying

[squidau1999]

first class WANKER!!! all about the abacus lesson 1 .. how to add 236345923789518 TO 93756587356 .... how about starting with 1 plus 1 and BUILD on that .... dingus

[fdssg]

@squidau1999 Since when did he say this was a lesson? It's just a demonstration. Idiot.

[mik600]

Just returned to London from my recent trip to Wuhan in China, brought back an old antique wooden abacus and now learning to use it. I hope to replace my calculator with the old abacus. Pretty cool for a London accountant to work with an abacus instead of a calculator.

Iqbal Khan

[uliscena54]

I rather just use a calculator. =)



[JeffEmbracedDC]

@uliscena54 Uh, this is a calculator.

[uliscena54]

@JeffEmbracedDC I know it is , but it is a crappy one =P

[lSzeSze]

@uliscena54 uh yeah, i dunno if true, but... if ur really familliar with an abacus, yeah.... its gonna be faster than a calculator :P

[terriesales]

Best example given here on Youtube. Thank you. I used one as a child, but put it away until recently. This is a great reminder of how to.

[sonogo1]

I have seen on the tv abacus vs calculator in multiplication 10+ digits numbers and guess what? the abacus win the game.

for some advanced users in China they are trained to imagine the abacus in their minds and do the math for multiplication and division with the fingers without the abacus.

[jsm666]

Easier to do it on paper IMO.

[wizzofwater101]

Very helpful. Thanks :) I might get one now . . .

[dragssk8]

Chuck Norris's abacus can divide by double zero !

[andyrooney12]

@dragssk8

LMAO I'm not a fan of Chuck Norris...actually I thought that TV show he did sucked. But, all of these Chuck Norris stories are just ridiculously funny.

[sk8ersynistersean]

Don vito!

[hillgeri]

I'm bad in maths.



[AZNTHEORY]

0:11 WITH TWO BEADS IN THE UPPER !DICK!

[parkour2693]

@AZNTHEORY Deck, lol get your mind out of the gutter! LOL, although it did sound like it.

[RoniCMaster]

This device is extraordinary. When I learn to use it in elementary school, after the third semester onwards, they took the abacus away and made us do abacus calculations in our head. It really is the best and easiest way to become human calculators, literally.

[bofhd89o]

hey at 4:28 it wasn't 15,it was 17, because following your counting system the total number you can get in one column is 17?!! right??!

[lihnlihn]

@bofhd89o uhh. no

[lihnlihn]

Can someone PLEASE tell me what to do if like there is 9 beads (the bead at the top and the rest at the bottom) and you have to add like 9 do you move to the next column after you get to 9 again (in that one column)??

[patrick258181]

Thank god the electronic calculator was invented.

[omardub15]

Good video,but you didn't explain how you subtracted and added

[Sunwitch1]

Its wrong mathematically but its even right because its currency not number sums

[Greengirl0071]

cool



[JDBMW1]

Wow I remember being to use these as a child. Not to sound pedantic but he basically repeated himself in the video. What you're basically saying is that the Japanese version of an abacus is called an abacus. Soroban is just Japanese for abacus, but it isn't a brand name or style name at all.

[JDBMW1]

@JDBMW1 Man I wish I could still remember how to use an abacus. I think I might take it up again. Beyond the pedantic language thing, thanks for the video. It's a nice reminder of how to use them. Now I just have to go and buy one.

[TanukiTensai]

@JDBMW1 Wow, so when I call you a twat, I really mean you are a cunt. Because Twat is possibly British for our English Cunt. Not a brand name or anything

[JDBMW1]

@TanukiTensai One could suggest the same by simply calling you a numptie I'm actually saying you're an idiot in many levels of the word for it could be Scottish! As I said and as you quoted: "Not a brand name or anything."

[SnapShotMontages]

@TanukiTensai Wow I just found this vid and was curious to find how anyone can argue about anything in this video. I mean I can understand other YouTube stuff, but a video about an abacus? Wow, you how old are you? 5? Seriously, you're going to rip on someone who just pointed out something that small? Wow, you're more of a cunt than @JDBMW1.

[SnapShotMontages]

@JDBMW1 I have to say that you're right in saying that you're pretty pedantic in pointing that small fact out since most people don't know how to speak a language. But then again, I guess you're right as well. But I do agree, abacus is truthfully a hard thing to get back into the habit of using after you've used a calculator. Good luck in trying to take that up again. =) And good on you for standing your ground!

[eelluuvvss]

nose bleed...

[annihilus2]

should correct the video, you arent adding 1, you are adding .01

[landship92]

My mind melted due to the knowledge received from this video.

[mihojc95]

why is the first one 1,234.56--->on the last 1 (6) the uper down and the down up is it because 2x3=6 sry i really dont know how to explain it easyer xDDD and im new to this abacus

[Xapplin]

DUDE ur doing it all wrong!!

[eetorreso]

i had abacus class on college math 1 (bmcc,ny)... it was fun, i learn to add and substract,... acturally easy and fun to do...

[talesofdork]

too bad it doesnt graph XD

[tzane94]

the only reason anyone watches this video is don .... "yo abacus"

[sz42781]

so im guessing its probably better to use a jap style one for learning

[hrabbit]

I want an abacus.... <.< I really think it would help me with my math

[meetadityanihlani]

ucmas??

[pokechallenger]

Where can I give a shit.

[cubbbbbbz]

where can i buy the Japanese style one?

[finnymumbai]

Tnks

[GonzGoyo]

I am buying one!!!

[LordProtektorKAL]

hmm... should be a lot faster with pen and paper.

[XtremeGamer20]

@LordProtektorKAL And with a calculator?

[LordProtektorKAL]

@XtremeGamer20 well, it's obvious that a calculator is a rather new invention, and that's not what this 'ancient tools' video is about.

[XtremeGamer20]

@LordProtektorKAL I know I was kidding :P It's amazing how they found this out... And isn't this what they used kinda to make the calculator itself?

[LordProtektorKAL]

@XtremeGamer20 yes it is amazing,

to your question: no. :-)

[XtremeGamer20]

@LordProtektorKAL Oh... :P

[crest4578]

Hmm, my brother and I actually knew how to use these.

[rajivkrishnatr]

wow, I din no it was japanese.............all these yrs i've new it was only chinese.......

[particletheory]

dude don't be a dick, your not adding 1 at about 3 minutes your adding .01

[KrypticGuy666]

But can it run Crysis?

[lemonfall]

@KrypticGuy666

HAHAHA!! Nice!

[Javierm0n0]

@KrypticGuy666 only if it's Chuck Norris's abacus

[TribunalxWarrior]

@KrypticGuy666 it can run crysis 2 ;D

[walcus100]

@KrypticGuy666 you're fuckn hilarious

[MisterTotallyNotVain]

@KrypticGuy666

LOL.

[JoHnDoriAne]

Very very interesting thank you for this video :)

[sanchimiliano]

I think i lost the will to live!

[aquaphone]

Interesting video, thanks, but you skipped a basic explanation.

[abhishekpandit1989]

thanks for uploading, such useful informations need to be uploaded on you tube

[thelifeuwant]

coooooooooooool

[homerbear46]

I think math got easier when they invented the pencil and exercise-book

[EyeLean5280]

I loved my abacus when I was a kid. I learned to use it properly and it was just as fast and accurate as a calculator.

[zours50]

if only don vito watched this video

[00Maximilian]

I wonder, through so much practice, that their brains only work in this way? Imagine them having to do logarithmic equations or exponents or polynomials.

[Xilosphere]

@00Maximilian It probably wouldn't be very hard from what I've seen... Only graphical equations may pose such a challenge, but Japanese students aren't taught only this method of calculation anyway. That simply displays your lack of knowledge my friend, although very minor a mistake.

[austinK65]

this is quite possibly the gayest thing i have ever watched in my entire life and not only was it a waste of my life i will never get back, but this guy has a lisp that makes Perez Hilton sound straight.

[630MillionGods]

only additions ?... how about subtrctions, multiplictions etc ?

[HbAvenger]

thanks I needed to know this for a school assignment... you probably got me an A

[foullump]

Holy crap this thing is awesome!

[violetElephant]

Thank you! I always wondered how the heck to use one... now I know! XD

[fenfen11251]

I take abacus classes and I dont use the end. I use the middle of the abacus!

[TheFahmifahim]

thank you for the Video!! ^_^

[AngelicvsBellum]

Thank you very much!

[iamstoned4life]

Mine arrived today =D

[Grcar57]

@iamstoned4life

where I can order this wonder =)) I NEED IT xD

wtf are they teaching us!! I DEMAND THIS! crime against humanity xD i feel retarded now..

[iamstoned4life]

Luckily, a friend of my mom spent their vacations in Thailand so she bought it for me from a seven-eleven^^

I have no idea where to order them in the internet.

[kermit30au]

Hey there. I got myself one exactly like the brass one he has on ebay for about $15aud. The wooden Japan types are around the $20-$50aud.

I still use a slide rule and abacus around in my office. I recon it keeps your mind active somewhat.

[iamstoned4life]

@kermit30au

You may be right.

Btw I've never heard of a slide rule before, thx.

[MsAyameIris]

@Grcar57

Mine arrived today and i got it off ebay for no bids i could just buy it now for $15.90 But it ould take 2-3 week to arrive

[skitzopk0]

The abacus is actually faster than majority of technology to this date, when i worked at the bank of Tokyo, my friend used hi abacus, and could even beat me, a trained worker in the bank, with my machines, i always thought they were incredible :D

[AbsoluteMenech]

eh not really, a calculator is a bit faster than this man

[hitachi088]

@AbsoluteMenech

FAUX

[kismetau]

it's very well explained - thanks!

[alexaimaq]

i never could pick this for months in school and i just learned how to use this in 5 minutes. thanks

[DonLduk]

thank you !

[nikeshocksshocks]

men i can do that without using abacus or calculator. just hand written. try me men hand writing vs abacus i think i could win

[eklipst2x]

Thank you... Great job!

[9eeky]

It is probably one of the best ways to teach children math. Math should be made interactive and fun for kids. The amount of time pushing multiplication tables - all that teaches is a list. Children love being involved in finding the answer. It teaches them to learn for themselves.

[eyallev]

for thoes of you that don't "get it" (how is counting beeds easier than a calc'), the answere is quite simple (and yet, hard to understand).

Today, many of you naturally make the conections betwen an amount, and the number representing that amount (5, is just the number 5, it's not 5 things).

For kids, making this connection is hard (not to mention, the concept of zero, "how can you have something to represent nothing").

the abacus helps in making that leap.

[scrimpnut]

Rice

[04mittald]

calculators are obviously easier to use

[QTcakes177]

hey it may be easier, but we would like to try something new!

[troutisyourmaster666]

To you maybe. Not everyone is the same. Some people find the abacus easier, which is why it's still used. Also because people in third world countries may not be able to afford a digital calculator so the abacus is an obvious choice. It just depends on what you're used to.

[TheHairofTime]

thanks a bundle. I've had one lying around for ages, and can finally use it!

[Jimmy57452]

I think my brain just melted. Lmao.

Hmm...I wonder if my math teacher would allow these...I could try learning one :P

[domehgt]

@Jimmy57452 man this is so fkn amazing. i had to concentrate really really hard to get the point how that thing works!

[ChaoMystero]

@Jimmy57452 yer think i could use one in my exams

[seilameu]

Great video, great explanation, thanks for sharing =)

[klokwrkblu]

nevermind what i last time said but could you do one about subtraction?

[klokwrkblu]

nice, but what if you want to add a number with more than one decimal, like 30?