At first glance, the abacus may seem like a relic of the past—a simple tool made of beads and rods. But dig deeper, and you’ll discover one of the most powerful instruments for developing not just math skills, but the human brain itself. Used across centuries and cultures, the abacus is now gaining renewed attention, especially through modern systems like SIMA Abacus that go beyond traditional methods to stimulate full brain development.
1. What Exactly Is an Abacus?
An abacus is a mechanical counting device made up of a rectangular frame with rods or wires. Beads slide along these rods and are manipulated to perform calculations. The standard abacus is divided into two parts:
- The upper section, where each bead typically has a value of 5
- The lower section, where each bead usually holds a value of 1
Each vertical rod represents a different place value—units, tens, hundreds, and so on—from right to left. This structure makes the abacus a powerful visualization tool for understanding place value, number operations, and logic.
2. How to Use the Abacus
Using an abacus involves moving beads toward or away from the center bar (or beam) to represent numbers.
For example:
- To count to 3, move three lower beads up.
- To reach 5, move the single upper bead down.
- For numbers like 8, you combine one upper bead (5) and three lower beads (1+1+1) to get the total.
As learners become more comfortable, these movements become second nature—just like tapping keys on a calculator.
3. Performing Arithmetic on the Abacus
The abacus isn’t limited to counting. It can handle all four basic operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—with surprising speed and accuracy.
- Addition/Subtraction: Beads are moved in combinations that follow logical strategies, such as grouping to the nearest ten and adjusting.
- Multiplication/Division: More advanced users learn to break down numbers across place values and use systematic strategies to perform complex operations.
- Roots: With training, square and cube roots can also be solved manually.
These techniques form the foundation of strong numerical thinking—something that calculators can never teach.
4. The Mental Abacus: Visualization at Work
One of the most fascinating aspects of abacus learning is what happens after consistent practice. Students begin to visualize the abacus in their minds and perform calculations without a physical device. This is known as mental abacus or ANZAN.
This mental visualization:
- Engages both the logical left brain and the creative right brain
- Builds memory, concentration, and imagination
- Results in faster, more accurate mental math skills
At this point, learners no longer move beads—they see the beads, and their minds do the rest.
5. The SIMA Abacus Approach: Beyond Mathematics
SIMA Abacus has taken traditional abacus training and transformed it into a full-brain development program for children aged 3 to 13. The system uses:
- Both-hands technique: Stimulating both sides of the brain by using the left and right hands simultaneously
- Color-coded beads: Enhancing memory and visualization through visual cues
- Mental training: Transitioning from physical calculation to powerful mental arithmetic
- Blended learning: Combining physical classes with digital practice (e.g., flash training)
But more than just math, SIMA Abacus focuses on building critical life skills—focus, confidence, creativity, and problem-solving.
6. Why Abacus Training Matters Today
In a world dominated by screens and shortcuts, the abacus stands as a hands-on, brain-based approach to learning. It helps children:
- Understand numbers at a deep, conceptual level
- Develop laser-sharp focus and memory
- Strengthen both academic and cognitive performance
- Gain confidence and a love for learning
It’s no surprise that parents and educators across the world are rediscovering the abacus—not as an outdated tool, but as a timeless method for unlocking a child’s full potential.