Journal of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association
Volume 43 Issue 2, June 2006
20 – 22
The Abacus: The Oldest Calculator
Sandra M Pulver
The abacus – the world’s oldest calculating machine – can be used for performing all basic arithmetic operations. It has taken many forms: the dust abacus, the line abacus, the grooved abacus and the bead abacus, which is still used today.