算盤

Soroban

Traditional Japanese Abacus · Sliding Beads

Soroban Value
0
Zero
Target / Result
💡
How Beads Move
Click upper bead → slides DOWN to divider (+5). Click lower bead → slides UP to divider (+1). Beads physically travel along the rod!
1/20
Set a Number
Practice Operation
📜 History
No practice yet.
Step-by-step soroban bead moves
Enter numbers above and click Generate Steps.
0
Score
0
Streak🔥
0
Tried
Secs
Press "New" to start!
⬆️⬇️

Bead Movement

  • Upper bead slides DOWN to activate (=5)
  • Lower beads slide UP to activate (=1 each)
  • Active = touching the gold divider bar
  • Max per column = 9 (5+4)
Set 7:
Upper bead ↓(5) + 2 lower beads ↑(2) = 7

Addition (Tasu)

  • Set number A — beads slide to position
  • Add B digit by digit right → left
  • 5-comp: +upper(5) −(5−B) lower
  • 10-comp: +1 left col −(10−B) here
7+8=15
Overflow! +1 ten, −2 units → 15 ✓

Subtraction (Hiku)

  • Set number A on soroban
  • Subtract B digit by digit
  • Can't subtract? Borrow from left
  • −1 left col, +(10−B) this col
15−8=7
Borrow: −1 ten, +2 units → 7 ✓
🧠

Complement Pairs

  • 5's: 1↔4, 2↔3
  • 10's: 1↔9, 2↔8, 3↔7, 4↔6
  • Add 6 → +10(left), −4 here
  • Add 4 → +5(upper), −1 lower
Quick ref
Add 7→+10,−3 | Add 8→+10,−2

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