Some cultures developed quite ingenious tools and systems to help with calculations. One of the
most familiar is the abacus, developed around 3000BC in Mesopotamia and still used in some
eastern cultures. The abacus began life as a board or slab covered in sand, used in ancient
Babylon for aligning numbers or writing; it later developed into a board with lines or grooves
for counters. The modern abacus with counters threaded onto rods or wires requires more
technological advancement to produce but is used in much the same way.
This essay project aims to introduce your students to the ancient tool of the abacus and its
applications in understanding various mathematical concepts. You will write how you and your
students will learn to perform arithmetic operations, manipulate number systems, and explore
mathematical patterns using the abacus. You should also provide a history of the abacus and its
modern use. This essay project will not include hands-on workshops where students will receive
training in using the abacus efficiently.
Your essay project will not engage in activities such as converting between different number
systems (e.g., decimal, binary) and solving arithmetic problems using the abacus. However, you
should integrate elements of algebra into the learning process so students can learn to solve
equations and explore algebraic properties using the abacus. Remember to explore the
connection between the concepts we learned, such as prime numbers, magic squares, arithmetic
operations, geometry, uncovering hidden patterns and relationships, and how using an abacus
can teach mathematics.
Write your essay project with Alex Bellos’ knowledge of using an abacus. You must use at leastsix quotes from Alex Bellos’ book to validate your findings. You must use three additional
references after the year 2014 to validate your findings. Your essay should develop proficiency in using the abacus as a powerful mathematical computation and problem-solving tool.
