The Abacus: Its History, Its Design, Its Possibilities in the Modern World

Author - Parry Hiram Moon ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Hardcover Book item from Gordon & Breach Science Pub was reviewed on 11-Mar-2009.

Search ISBN:0677019602 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. The Abacus: Its History, Its Design, Its Possibilities in the Modern World Reference Book. Classifications : General Mathematics Professional Science Professional & Technical Subjects Books Arithmetic Popular & Elementary Mathematics Science Subjects Books General Mathematics Science Subjects Books General A .

Related topics: General. Mathematics. Subjects. Books. Arithmetic. Mathematics. Science. Subjects. Books. General.

1) Hardcover Book The Abacus: Its History, Its Design, Its Possibilities in the Modern World by Gordon & Breach Science Pub. The book contains lots of interesting information on the history and mathematics of the abacus (and arithmetic in general). The perspective is a bit dated (as is to be expected of a 1971 edition): the basic premises are 1. that the need for computation will grow with the increasing complexity of society (correct) and 2. that electronic computers and even "desk calculators" and slide-rules will always be too expensive to be used for the majority computation tasks (incorrect). Therefore the author investigates if the abacus could in any way be a viable alternative tool for routine computation. Although this question has lost some of its urgency, the book contains a lot of interesting information.

The first part gives a broad overview of many aspects of the abacus and some related subjects (the history of number systems, base-10 versus alternative bases, a short history of European abaci and counting boards, basic operations on the abacus). Chapter three ("arithmetic") is sort of a catalogue of shortcuts to basic arithmetic operations, many of them based on pencil-and-paper methods, some on the abacus and a few on other arithmetic tools such as Napier´s rods.

The second part of the book discusses different designs of the abacus, such as the types generally used in Russia (10 beads per rod), China (5+2 beads per rod) and Japan (4+1 beads per rod), but also some new inventions, for instance with some beads having a negative value. These designs are analysed and compared in terms of efficiency, the main criterion being the average number of bead movements required for addition.

One thing I find missing from this book is some historic and cultural background on the abacus in Russia, China and Japan. Apart from that, I think it is covers many intersting subjects; my favourite part is the section that describes the operation of ancient and medieval counting boards and the advantages and disadvantages in comparison to the abacus.¤

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 8-Apr-2009, 06770196029780677019604, 020-8

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