The Japanese Cranmer Abacus is a

rectangular frame with 13 vertical rods. On

each rod are 5 beads which move up and
down. A horizontal separation bar cuts across
all 13 rods separating 4 of the beads from the
single fifth bead.
The raised dots below each rod are used to
locate rods needed to write or set numbers:
the lines which are called UNIT MARKS serve
as commas and decimal points.
Abacus is based on the decimal system, thus

Setting
the
Numbers

 Use the word SET when one records a number on the

abacus and use the word CLEAR when a number is
erased or removed.
Each bead below the separation bar has a value of one.
The single bead above has a value of one. On a single
rod one can set the ten digitd 0 to 9. To set 1 move the
top bead below the separation bar up to the bar. To set
4, move 4 beads up. To set 5, clear the 4 beads and
move the single bead which is above the separation bar
down to the bar. To set 6, move the top bead in the
group of 4 in the same column up to the bar.
To set 9, set 5 and 4 in the same column. All beads on a
rod are moved as close to the separation bar as
possible. To set 125, move 1 bead on the hundreds
place, 2 beads up the bar on the tens place and move

How to Add
Numbers in
Abacus

Remember:

1. Only one addend is set on the

abacus.
2. Addition is performed from left to
right on the abacus.
3. Each digit is added to the digit in
the corresponding column as the
addition proceeds from left to right.

Example 1: 26 + 17 =
1. Right hand sets on the 2 on the
2nd rod and 6 on the 1st rod.
2. To add 1 to the 2 of 26, set 1 on
the 2nd rod.
3. 7 cannot be added directly to 6,
so left hand sets 10 making it 40.
Right hand clears 5 and set 2.

Example 2: 65 + 28 =

1. Set 6 on the 2nd rod and 5 on

the 1st rod.
2. To add 2 to the 6 of 65, set 2
rods on the tens place.
3. 8 cannot be added directly to 5
so set 10 on the tens rod. Clear
5 and set 3 on the ones rod.

Example 3: 126 + 87 =
1.Set 1 on the 3rd rod, 2 on the second
rod and 6 on the first rod.
2.To add 8 to the 2 of 126, set 1 on the
hundreds place then clear the beads
on the tens rod.
3.To set 7 to the 6 of 126, set 10 on the
second rod. Clear 5 on the ones rod

Example 4: 357 + 158 =

1. Set 3 on the 3rd rod, 5 on the 2nd rod and
7 on the 1st rod.
2. To add 1 to the 3 of 357, set 1 on the
hundreds rod.
3. To add 5 to the 5 of 357, set 5 on the
hundreds rod and clear 4 on the same rod,
and then clear 5 on the tens rod.
4. To add 8 to the 7 of of 357, set 10 and

Example 5: 444 + 789 =

1.Set 444 on the abacus.
2.7 cannot be added directly to 4, so
set 1 on the 4th rod and clear 3 on
the 3rd rod.
3.To add 8 to the 4 of tens place, set 1
on the hundreds place and clear 2 on
the 2nd rod.