Frequently Asked Questions (Abacus)

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Trendz Abacus

What is Abacus & what are its Uses?

What kind of calculations can we do with abacus?

What all in Mathematics can be done using Abacus?

Why do Children Need Mental Arithmetic?

What is Mental Arithmetic and how is it done using Abacus as a base?

Why only Abacus is insisted for Developing Mental Arithmetic?

How will the Child’s Imagination, Memory, Concentration & Confidence levels improve by doing Abacus Mental Arithmetic?

How Brain Development Takes Place through Abacus?

Why 5 – 14 yrs is suggested as the right age for learning abacus?

Can Students of 14- 18 yrs also develop their brainpower-using abacus?

Is it true that Concentration skills are improved by learning abacus?

Where we can buy abacus?

Is abacus still necessary even today with the spread of office automation machines?

Once you complete the basic courses, are there any other advance courses available?

How much does it cost to take certificate examinations?

When can students know result of the exam?

I have an old abacus, but its beads do not move smoothly. What shall I do?

My child is a left-hander, will he be able to do abacus easily?

Won’t the child get confused between Abacus method of doing Maths and the regular school method of doing Maths?

What is Abacus & what are its Uses?

A.

Abacus is a very popular Chinese tool used for doing Mathematical Calculations with great speed and accuracy. It’s the most simple and practical way to learn Mathematics & developing one’s Brainpower! Abacus uses Math as the base subject.

Modern Day ABACUS has a plastic frame with colorful beads on it that are used for counting & doing the mathematical operations. Each bead has got a value. Moving the beads up and down does the calculations. We have a Large, Display or The Master Abacus used by Course Instructors for Illustrations in the class. The Student Abacus on the other hand is very light and can be easily carried by children.

Abacus is virtually seen as the ultimate Brainpower Development Program for today’s children! It lays foundation for a strong Mathematical Aptitude & Improves Performance in all other areas. Foreseen as the WONDER PROGRAM and often called as Mathemagic, the use of Abacus lays foundation for ABACUS MENTAL ARITHMETIC.

What kind of calculations can we do with abacus / What all in Mathematics can be done using Abacus?

A.

All the arithmetical Operations are possible on the Modern day Trendz Abacus. Besides addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, we can calculate the square root, cube root and even decimals on the abacus.

Why do Children Need Mental Arithmetic?

A.

Just as for physical well-being & fitness, we need physical exercises & movements, similarly for mental well-being we need mental exercises and a brainpower development program that can empower a complete 360-degree brain development. Mental Arithmetic offers great advantages to make our Children

• More competent
• Confident
• With Improved their Overall Abilities
• Better Performers in all areas!

Mathematics is the best subject for exercising our brain cells. Using brain stormers, puzzles, questions etc. The human brain exercises well & thus embarks on the process of development.

Abacus Based Mental Arithmetic gives more advantages as it develops the Brain Power as well!! It puts the whole process in full swing by combining skills of Mathematics & Mental Arithmetic so the development is faster & in a planned manner!!

What is Mental Arithmetic and how is it done using Abacus as a base? / Why only Abacus is insisted for Developing Mental Arithmetic?

A.

Mental Arithmetic is a form of calculation that is done solely by human mind using mental powers or performing calculations mentally without using any external tool such as a calculator, computer, scale, pen, paper, pencil or even the Abacus.

Developing Mental Arithmetic using Abacus is an easy and achievable task. We need a medium as well as a set of rules for developing & practicing Mental Arithmetic. Abacus satisfies all pre-requisites! It’s used only as the ladder to Reach Mental Arithmetic.

The Process: Initially the student is encouraged to learn bead movements and do the sums & solve problems with the student abacus. Consequently the student gains speed and accuracy in solving the problems & deriving the correct answer develops the confidence that abacus is simple to use & learn. It helps form an image of Abacus in his mind! Later on, for developing mental arithmetic, we remove the abacus tool because we don’t want to make the child dependent on it. They’re trained to think, imagine that a virtual abacus is kept in front and to move imaginary beads on it. They imagine the abacus in front of them because of the mental image they have formed and he does his calculations by recalling his abacus method and formulas This is interesting and full of fun for the child! This process, where they solve simple as well as complex questions using an imaginary abacus is called Mental Arithmetic! In all the levels of abacus we initially make the child do sums with the abacus and later on In each level the child practices mental Arithmetic where thus his memory and concentration is improved.

How will the Child’s Imagination, Memory, Concentration & Confidence levels improve by doing Abacus Mental Arithmetic?

A.

Trendz Abacus, the Complete Brain Power Development Program is also highly popular as the Concentration Builder & Memory Booster Program! Based on Scientifically proven, logical methods and the understanding of Child Psychology, we follow Methods to Develop & Boost the mental faculties.

Developing Imagination & Creativity: Initially when the child is encouraged to learn bead movements on the student abacus, they consequently gain speed and confidence on it. Abacus is removed from them in specified time duration so they are not dependent on it. They’re trained to think, imagine that a virtual abacus is kept in front and to move imaginary beads on it. This is interesting and full of fun for the child! It develops the visualization power and boosts Imagination and creativity in them.

Boosting Memory: To solve questions mentally, Students do the imaginary bead movements, remember the position of remaining beads and then recall the digits for Addition / Subtraction / Multiplication etc. Continuous and rigorous practise of the same develops a Photographic memory for longer retention and quick recalling.

Concentration Developer: During Mental Arithmetic, the child has to listen carefully to the questions/sums being called out loudly by the teacher. In case he hears correct, which is possible only with 100%attention and alertness, he gets the accurate solutions If not the answers are wrong. The Urge to get the Right Answer encourages the child to concentrate for that specified duration and thus develops the concentration power as a part of habit or practise.

Generating Self Confidence: As many number of times the child gets the right answer, his confidence is doubled and gradually develops high self-confidence.

Removing the Fear & Phobia of Mathematics marks the beginning of Abacus training. The Bead system of Abacus is very simple and it helps develop Speed & Accuracy for finding Answers to even Complex Questions. This develops a Strong Self Confidence in the Child. Regular Practise generates Confidence & Removes the Fear & Phobia for Mathematics.

Generating fun & interest in Mathematics! This Lab Method based on Practical Touch and feel Approach, is the key to generating interest & removing Boredom! Abacus as a tool is taught in playful manner, using stories & rhymes!! Absence of Pen, Paper, and Calculator & interactive sessions keep the class full of creativity! Solving questions using the beads of Abacus is a very interesting, fun generating experience for the Children.

How Brain Development Takes Place through Abacus?

A:

Trendz Abacus program requires frequent use of the thumb and index finger of the right hand only, to operate the abacus tool. The nerves of these 2 fingers are directly related to the brain. Human brain is divided into 2 parts: The left-brain and the right brain. Left-brain has 5 main functions Writing, Speech, Thinking, Calculation, Judgment (Decision Making) Now while working; student moves beads up and down (fingers are used, acupressure sends regular sensations to brain). Using math, student continuously works on digits and does operations (+, -, x, /) and reaches results .So automatically the 3 major functions of left brain are repeated again and again .The left part gets rigorous exercise and usage and Similarly right brain has 4 main functions Visualization, Imagination, Memorization, and Recalling. Now when we remove abacus as physical device and focus on Mental Arithmetic, the student first imagines or you can say, visualizes the picture of abacus in mind. Then performs math mentally (as if he was using real abacus). All this boosts his creativity and Imaginative powers. Moreover to do so, he has to listen carefully to what his teacher says (for abacus) and develops a habit of focus and concentration in the classrooms. Now during Mental Arithmetic he imagines, visualizes, remembers and recalls, All these processes again and again involve rigorous and continuous use of right brain and left brain leading to a full 360⁰ brain development. Hence our target of Complete Brain Power Development is achieved!

Why 5 – 14 yrs is suggested as the right age for learning abacus?

A:

Formation of child’s brain takes shape in this age as per various research papers. Human brain starts to develop at the age of 3 years and extends to 100% between the age of 5-14 years. At 5 years the child has a very absorbent mind. Their mind is fresh and free from all the responsibilities and tensions of life. Therefore we believe in nourishing an absorbent mind.

Can Students of 14- 18 yrs also develop their brainpower-using abacus?

A:

Abacus Mental Arithmetic is the most fantastic way of learning maths in a new practical and “Learning while doing approach”. At the same time developing mental faculties (i.e. Brain Power development) is achieved using our Abacus based Mental Arithmetic. Learning maths is now fun through our maths Lab approach for performing routine/complex Mathematical calculations, mentally, at a great speed and accuracy in just a few seconds, without using pen, paper, calculator or any other external tool.

Is it true that Concentration skills are improved by learning abacus?

A:

Yes, absolutely! Abacus Mental Arithmetic Training includes continuous here is a good example to explain why: Working out a written – down problem on an abacus is one of the abacus calculations. When you work on addition & subtraction with 10 numbers of 2- digits each, you have to move abacus beads approximately 30 times and if make even one mistake, your answer is incorrect! So to get the right answer, the student has to be focused and alert! This gradual & regular process builds concentration as practise!! Secondly, routine steps followed in classroom, build concentration

• Dictation - This is also called listening mental arithmetic. Someone will read aloud the number and the listener will perform the calculation
• Observation- The person will use the numbers that he sees and imagines the number to be the beads on an abacus. He will use this imaginary abacus to perform the calculation.
• Mental Calculations - The person will dictate to himself silently and use an imaginary abacus to perform the calculation.

Where we can buy abacus?

A.

At Learning Trendz!

Is abacus still necessary even today with the spread of office automation machines?

A.

There are various essential skills learnt in childhood, and calculation skills are one of them. It is the best way for children to learn how to calculate by practicing abacus. In addition, mental arithmetic calculation skills are useful for everyday life and effective for the right brain activation.

Once you complete the basic courses, are there any other advance courses available?

A.

Yes, we provide students with advance courses.

How much does it cost to take certificate examinations?

A.

It depends on levels.

When can students know result of the exam?

A.

The following week of the test date.

I have an old abacus, but its beads do not move smoothly. What shall I do?

A.

The beads don’t move smoothly because of dust, so clean abacus beads with a brush and / or dry cloth. If the beads would still not move well, you should ask Learning Trendz manufactures for professional advice. Abacus is easily damaged by moisture. You need to be careful in using it with dry, clean hand.

My child is a left-hander, will he be able to do abacus easily?

A.

Yes, why not. Abacus can be done by anybody. Being a left-hander or a right-hander does not create any problem in the method of doing abacus.

Won’t the child get confused between Abacus method of doing Maths and the regular school method of doing Maths?

A.

No the child will not get confused at all. In fact as he starts doing abacus, he will enjoy doing calculations on it and will find the abacus method much easier, accurate and less time consuming.