14/10/2020 Soroban: Addition and subtraction – simple

1. Addition and subtraction – simple

53 + 26
98 – 75

This section covers the simplest additions and subtractions performed on

soroban. Writing it I assumed that you know how soroban works.

The addition looks like:

addend + addend = sum (result)

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The addends are also called “terms” or “summands”. Some authors call the
first addend “the augend”.

The subtraction looks like:

minuend – subtrahend = difference (result)

You perform the addition and subtraction from left to right.

Performing any calculation on an abacus you work at any moment in two

columns (on two rods) – the current one and the previous one (that means
the next to the left side of the current one). So you should always know which
column is the current one. The merit of this method is that at any moment
you perform a partial calculation using small numbers – usually one-digit or
two-digit ones.

In fact you even don’t have to add (subtract) some number to (from) the
other one. You just have to move the right amount of the beads up or down.
With the passing of time the actions necessary to perform the calculations
become mechanical. The same as with any other activity – the longer you
work with the abacus the easier it’s to use it.

1.1.
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53 + 26
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0 0 0 0 5 3

53 + 26

Let’s start with the example: 53 + 26.

Put 53 on the right side of the abacus making sure that the number ends in
the units column. 53 consists of two digits – 5 and 3. In order to put that
number on the abacus put 5 into the column previous to the rightmost one
and put 3 into the rightmost column.

Number 26 consists of two digits – 2 and 6. So in order to add it to the other

number you have to perform the addition twice – for each digit and column
separately. Number 2 goes to the second column from the right side because
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digit 2 is the second from the right side in number 26 and number 6 goes to
the rightmost column because digit 6 is the rightmost in number 26.

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1.2.
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0 0 0 0 5 3

53 + 26

First go to the second column from the right side because the second addend
of the sum consists of two digits. It’s now your current column and its value is
5.

1.3.
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◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ • •
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0 0 0 0 7 3

53 + 26

In order to add 2 to 5 you have to move two one-beads towards the beam
separating the top and bottom row. As a result the value in this column
changes from 5 (see: the previous image) to 7 (see: above).

1.4.
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0 0 0 0 7 3

53 + 26

Next go to the rightmost column. It’s now your current column and its value
is 3.

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1.5.
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0 0 0 0 7 9

53 + 26 = 79

In order to add 6 to 3 you have to move towards the beam a combination of

the beads equal 6. Think of the number 6 as the sum of 5 and 1 because 6 = 5
+ 1. So in order to add 6 to 3 you have to add 5 and 1. To do this you have to
move towards the beam a five-bead in the top row and a single one-bead in
the bottom row. As a result the value in this column changes from 3 (see: the
previous image) to 9 (see: above).

Read the result of the addition from left to right. It’s 79.

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1.6.
98 – 75
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0 0 0 0 9 8

98 – 75

Let’s finish with the example: 98 – 75.

Put 98 on the right side of the abacus making sure that the number ends in
the units column. 98 consists of two digits – 9 and 8. In order to put that
number on the abacus put 9 into the column previous to the rightmost one
and put 8 into the rightmost column.
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Number 75 consists of two digits – 7 and 5. So in order to subtract it from the

other number you have to perform the subtraction twice – for each digit and
column separately. Number 7 goes away from the second column from the
right side because digit 7 is second from the right side in number 75 and
number 5 goes away from the rightmost column because digit 5 is the
rightmost in number 75.

1.7.
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0 0 0 0 9 8

98 – 75

First, go to the second column from the right side because the subtrahend of
the subtraction consists of two digits. It’s now your current column and its

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value is 9.

1.8.
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0 0 0 0 2 8

98 – 75

In order to subtract 7 from 9 you have to move away from the beam
separating the top and bottom row a combination of the beads equal to 7.
Think of number 7 as the sum of 5 and 2 because 7 = 5 + 2. So in order to
subtract 7 from 9 you have to subtract 5 and 2. To do this you have to move
away from the beam five-bead in the top row and two one-beads in the
bottom row. As a result the value in this column changes from 9 (see: the
previous image) to 2 (see: above).

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1.9.
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0 0 0 0 2 8

98 – 75

Next go to the rightmost column. It’s now your current column and its value
is 8.

1.10.
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0 0 0 0 2 3

98 – 75 = 23

In order to subtract 5 from 8 you have to move away from the beam five-bead
in the top row. As a result the value in this column changes from 8 (see: the
previous image) to 3 (see: above).

Read the result of the subtraction from left to right. It’s 23.

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© 2016–2019 Cezary M. Kruk <[email protected]>

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