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e) Two alternatives are possible for solving this problem.

i) Two abacuses may be used by the child, one for calculations and the other for

recording the important steps of the calculations and the result.

ii) One abacus can be used for calculations and the child can record his answers in

Braille using a Braille sheet and the Braille slate. Here the child should record

all the different steps of the calculation.

f) The above alternatives are equally good. But the second one is time consuming

whereas the first method is faster.

g) Once the fraction is converted into an improper fraction, the multiplication of

the numerators is just like the normal multiplication. Similar procedures are to

be followed in the case of denominators.

h) Memory of multiplication tables is very essential for converting the proper fraction

into an improper fraction.

II. MULTIPLICATION WITH TWO ABACUSES :

Example :^5 122 ×^12 1311

a) With the first abacus, change the first fraction into improper fraction. For this,

i) Multiply 12 and 5 using regular multiplication procedures.

ii) With the multiplied value 60, add 2 of the numerator.

b) Now set the numerator of the improper fraction 1262 in the second abacus. In

doing so, the numerator should be set in the left and the denominator in the

right side of the abacus. Set the 62, 6 in the extreme left and 2 in the immediate

right of the number 6 in the left side of the abacus. The denominator 12 should

be set in the extreme right as you set the number in addition. That is your 2

should be set in the units column and the 1 in the tens column.