Join FunTrivia for Free: Hourly trivia games, quizzes, community, and more!
Fun Trivia
Ask FunTrivia: Questions and Answers
Answers to 100,000 Fascinating Questions
Welcome to FunTrivia's Question & Answer forum!

Search All Questions


Please cite any factual claims with citation links or references from authoritative sources. Editors continuously recheck submissions and claims.

Archived Questions

Goto Qn #


What's the minimum number of bars on an abacus?

Question #16228. Asked by NikMom.

Fosse4
Answer has 15 votes
Currently Best Answer
Fosse4

Answer has 15 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
As ythe abacus is a counting device used to count up to ten, the minimum number of wires and beads would be 1 wire and 1 bead allowing you to count 1
the usual number of beads on a wire is ten allowing the counting of up to ten.
To continue counting an additional wire with 10 beads would be added for 100's, 1000's, 10,000's etc.
so an abacus which can count to 10,999 would have four wires
Hope this helps.
Further info on the Abacus can be found in Brewers Phrase and Fable.



Jan 25 2002, 1:29 PM
free email trivia FREE! Get a new mixed Fun Trivia quiz each day in your email. It's a fun way to start your day!


arrow Your Email Address:

Sign in or Create Free User ID to participate in the discussion