How can you do calculations (计算) quickly? These days, you can easily use a calculator.
But how about people in ancient times? In the very beginning, the cleverest among them thought of using stones and seashells. Then, around the 2nd century B. C. , they invented the abacus. Some researchers consider the invention to be the world's oldest "calculator". In China, people used abacuses to do calculations for thousands of years.
The abacus is usually made of wood. It has many beads(珠子). Each rod(竿) stands for a different digit(数位). The rightmost is ones, the second is tens, the third is hundreds, and so on. Each bead in the central area has a value.
In the past, the use of the abacus was taught in all schools. It was considered to be an important skill that everybody needed to pick up. Wherever there was a need for calculations, an abacus would come into sight.
Today, abacuses are no longer widely used. Perhaps you have never seen one. However, we can still feel the important roles they once played. Abacuses have become a symbol. Because they used to be a must-have for business people, some have come to believe that abacuses can help theirowners gather wealth.
