Editing Abacus (section)

==School abacus==
[[File:Kugleramme.jpg|thumb|Early 20th century abacus used in Danish elementary school]]
[[File:Telraam.JPG|thumb|A twenty bead ''rekenrek'']]
Around the world, abacuses have been used in pre-schools and elementary schools as an aid in teaching the [[numeral system]] and [[arithmetic]].

In Western countries, a bead frame similar to the Russian abacus but with straight wires and a vertical frame is common (see image).

Each bead represents one unit (e.g. 74 can be represented by shifting all beads on 7 wires and 4 beads on the 8th wire, so numbers up to 100 may be represented). In the bead frame shown, the gap between the 5th and 6th wire, corresponding to the color change between the 5th and the 6th bead on each wire, suggests the latter use. Teaching multiplication, e.g. 6 times 7, may be represented by shifting 7 beads on 6 wires.

The red-and-white abacus is used in contemporary primary schools for a wide range of number-related lessons. The twenty bead version, referred to by its [[Dutch language|Dutch]] name ''rekenrek'' ("calculating frame"), is often used, either on a string of beads or on a rigid framework.<ref>{{harvnb|West|2011|p=49}}</ref>