| Object: Demonstration of a calculation system from the middle ages
which uses binary representation of numbers for addition and multiplication.
The given example shows the addition 9 + 46 + 85.
Row A contains 85 in binary, above it we see 46 in row B and 9 in row C.
You can click any position to change the entries.
Click the lower right corner to clear the abacus.
Click B to add 9 to the number 85 given in A.
If a double coin results in any position, you have to get rid of it by clicking
the ´A´ button repeatedly. With each click this will delete a double coin
and replace it with one coin added to the position to the left.
This procedure is called a `double-up´ of the coins. Keep clicking A
until all double coins have disappeared.
Now click C to add 45 to the number 85 given in A and proceed as before.
When all double coins have disappeared, line A will show the result of the addition.
This system works for any number of numbers to be added.
Variant 2 demonstrates the application of Napier´s Abacus for the multiplication of two numbers.
See the associated game text for details.
Baron John Napier (1550-1617) was a Scottish mathematician who discovered logarithms
and who was the first important mathematician of Britain. |
