DIVISION

Standard terminology will be used in describing the method. For example, in the problem 50 / 5 = 10, 50 is the dividend, 5 the divisor, and 10 the quotient.  It is customary to set the dividend a little to the right of the central part of the abacus and the divisor at the left. The two numbers are generally separated by three or four unused rods. As the Abacus Committee favors leaving four unused rods between the two numbers, the following examples will adhere to that practice.  The method of division used here gives the first digit of the quotient between the dividend and divisor. Two main reasons can be given for setting the dividend on the right and the divisor on the left. One is that since the abacus is operated with the right hand, the reverse order of setting the two numbers would cause the multiplier to be hidden by the hand much of the time, as in the case of multiplication. The other is that in case the dividend is indivisible by the divisor, the reverse order would cause the quotient to extend right into the divisor.  In division, as in multiplication, the use of the unit rod is not too essential, but does facilitate calculation in many ways. Therefore, the unit figure of the dividend is always set on a unit rod. When the divisor is a whole number, however, we shall disregard the unit rod, and simply set the divisor in such a way that its last digit is located on the fifth rod to the left of the dividend.  As for the order of setting the dividend and divisor, since the last digit of the dividend must be set on a unit rod, it is advisable for the beginner to set the dividend before setting the divisor. As is the case with multiplication, however, experts often reverse the procedure, setting the divisor first or not at all.