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Reckoning board
01
算盘, 算盘
a manual calculating tool with rows of beads or counters on rods or wires used for basic arithmetic operations
What is a "reckoning board"?
A reckoning board is an early calculating tool used for performing arithmetic operations, often by merchants, traders, and accountants. It consists of a flat surface, usually made of wood or stone, with marked lines or columns to help organize numbers. Small counters or pebbles are used to represent numbers, and they are moved along the lines to perform calculations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. Reckoning boards were widely used before the invention of more advanced calculating devices and served as a precursor to the abacus and other early calculating tools.
Example
In ancient civilizations, merchants and traders used reckoning boards, or abacuses, to perform calculations for trade and commerce.
The teacher introduced students to the concept of counting and arithmetic using a reckoning board during a history lesson on ancient civilizations.
