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Large and small abacus.jpg

109 Large wooden abacus

Calculating machine, probably ofBabylonian origin. It is the ancestor to modern calculator and the computer, used for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Each lower bead represents ‘1’ and each upper bead represents ‘5’.

110 Small wooden abacus

Similar to the large wooden abacus (No. 109), but there is only one ‘5’ bead per column.