ABACUS DIVISION -
QUOTIENT AND REMAINDERExample : 4988 ÷ 28
a) Set the divisor 28 at the extreme left of the abacus.
b) Set the dividend at the extreme right of the abacus.
c) Add 1 with the first digit of the divisor (mentally). You get 3. Now ask how many 3’s
in 4? It is 1. 1 may be your assumed quotient. Set the assumed quotient to the left
of the first digit of the dividend by skipping the immediate left column. This is done
because 2, the first digit of the divisor is less than 4, the first digit of the dividend.
Now you can start multiplying. By saying 1 5 2 = 2, subtract 2 from 4. By saying
1 5 8 = 8, subtract the 8 from 9. You are left with 21.
d) Next, consider 218. This is a very typical case. If you look at the divisor and the
dividend, the first digits are exactly the same i.e., 2. Thus, you are tempted to set the
quotient by skipping one column to the left. If you skip one column to the left, you
have number 1 in the quotient which has already been set. Are you going to add your
next digit of the quotient with that 1? ABSOLUTELY NOT. In such cases, do we follow
any other procedure? YES.
e) For setting the first digit of the quotient, you considered the first two digits of the
dividend into which the divisor is divided. In that case, you considered only the first
digit of the divisor. Now you have to consider three digits of the divisor into which
the divisor should be divided. When you consider three digits of the divisor, see