The abacus

The abacus has long been out of fashion, it was replaced by calculators and computers. But the history of this counting machine should be told. Few people know what we do, sometimes tying "memory" knot in a handkerchief. With a great sense of our ancestors, "recorded", thus, the result of the account on the laces. Rope with knots was a once-counting abacus. It was a rope abacus. One time to tie the knot on a rope meant 10 twice – 100, three times – 1000 and so on.

The abacus has long been out of fashion, it was replaced by calculators and computers

The abacus is now associated with such common words such as "bank" and "check". "Bank" in German means "bench". What is in common between a financial institution - bank in the modern sense of the word - and the bench? It turns out that there is not a mere coincidence. The abacus in the form of bench has been widely circulated in the trade circles in Germany in the 15-16 centuries. Every money-changing shop characterized by the presence of "counting the bench." Naturally, the bench has become synonymous with the bank.

The abacus appeared first in ancient Babylon 3 thousand years BC. Initially, it was a board on which were made by a strip or groove. The calculating labels (stones, bones) moved on the lines or grooves. At 5 in BC. in Egypt instead of lines and depressions started to use sticks and stones strung wire.

The abacus is related to the word "check". This word is of English origin and occur from "count" verb. This abacus was in the form of leather wipes, which in 16-17 centuries had British traders. If necessary they make count by deploying it on the table. This abacus has become a model for the calculation forms.

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