MULTIPLICATION EXAMPLES ABACUS: MYSTERY OF THE BEAD

The Bead Unbaffled - An Abacus Manual

Example: 306 x 4 = 1224

Choose rod H to be the unit rod. There is one number in the multiplier and three in the multiplicand for a
total of four. Count off four rods to the left ending up at rod D. Set the multiplicand so that first number in
the multiplicand falls on rod D. Now the unit number in the product will fall neatly on rod H.

Step 1: Set the multiplicand 306 on rods DEF and the multiplier 4 on A. (Fig.1)

Step 1

A B C D E F G H I
. . .
4 0 0 3 0 6 0 0 0
Fig.1

Step 2: Multiply 6 on F by 4 on A and add the product 24 on rods GH immediately to the right of the
multiplicand.

2a: Having finished with this part of the multiplicand (the 6 on F) clear it from the soroban leaving 3 on rod
D and the partial product 24 on rods GH. (Fig.2)

Step 2

A B C D E F G H I
. . .
4 0 0 3 0 6 0 0 0
+ 2 4 Step 2
4 0 0 3 0 6 2 4 0
clear (-6) Step 2a
Fig.2 4 0 0 3 0 0 2 4 0

Step 3: Multiply the 3 on D by the 4 on A and add the product 12 on rods EF immediately to the right of
the multiplicand.

3a and the answer: Clear the 3 on D from the soroban leaving the answer 1224 on rods EFGH. (Fig.3)

Step 2

A B C D E F G H I
. . .
4 0 0 3 0 0 2 4 0
+ 1 2 Step 3
4 0 0 3 1 2 2 4 0
(-3) Step 3a
Fig.3 4 0 0 0 1 2 2 4 0

Example: 426 x 0.35 = 149.1

Choose rod H to be the unit rod. There are no whole numbers in the multiplier but there are three in the
multiplicand. Therefore count off 3 rods to the left ending up at rod E. Set the multiplicand so that first
number in the multiplicand falls on rod E. Now the unit number in the product will fall neatly on rod H.

Step 1: Set the multiplicand 426 on rods EFG and the multiplier 35 on AB. (Fig.4)

1算盤 ABACUS: MYSTERY OF THE BEAD - Multiplicatio...

A B C D E F G H I
. . .
3 5 0 0 4 2 6 0 0
Fig.4

Step 2: Multiply 6 on G by 3 on A and add the product 18 on rods HI immediately to the right of the
multiplicand.
2a: Next multiply 6 on G by 5 on B and add the 3 (of 30) to rod I.
2b: Having finished with the 6 on G clear it from the soroban leaving 42 on rods EF and the partial
product 21 on rods HI. (Fig.5)

Step 2

A B C D E F G H I
. . .
3 5 0 0 4 2 6 0 0
+ 1 8 Step 2
3 5 0 0 4 2 6 1 8
+ 3 Step 2a
3 5 0 0 4 2 6 2 1
Fig5 clear (-6) Step 2b
3 5 0 0 4 2 0 2 1

Step 3: Multiply 2 on F by 3 on A and add the product 06 on rods GH immediately to the right of the
multiplicand.
3a: Next multiply 2 on F by 5 on B and add the product 10 to rods H I.
3b: Having finished with the 2 on F clear it from the soroban. This leaves 4 on rod E and the partial
product 91 on rods HI. (Fig.6)

Step 3

A B C D E F G H I
. . .
3 5 0 0 4 2 0 2 1
+ 0 6 Step 3
3 5 0 0 4 2 0 8 1
+ 1 0 Step 3a
3 5 0 0 4 2 0 9 1
Fig6 clear (-2) Step 3b
3 5 0 0 4 0 0 9 1

Step 4: Multiply 4 on E by 3 on A and add the product 12 on rods FG immediately to the right of the
multiplicand.
4a: Next multiply 4 on E by 5 on B and add the product 20 to rods GH.
4b and the answer: Having finished with the 4 on E clear it from the soroban. This leaves 1491 on rods
FGHI. Because we designated rod H as the unit, the answer reads 149.1 (Fig.7)

Step 2

A B C D E F G H I
. . .
3 5 0 0 4 0 0 9 1
+ 1 2 Step 4
3 5 0 0 4 1 2 9 1
+ 2 0 Step 4a
3 5 0 0 4 1 4 9 1
Fig7 clear (-4) Step 4b
3 5 0 0 0 1 4 9 1

2算盤 ABACUS: MYSTERY OF THE BEAD - Multiplicatio...