MICHAELS ARTS & CRAFTS STORES MAKES BEAN COUNTING CRAFTY AND HELP CITIZENS COUNT DOWN TO APRIL 15th CREATIVELY BY MAKING THEIR OWN ABACUS

Taxpayers can make preparing their returns fun and less frazzling by customizing their own version of the oldest device known to man - the beaded abacus - with free project directions from Michaels Arts & Crafts Stores.

There is no way around it, Tax Day is right around the corner and Uncle Sam will be waiting. Even with all shortcuts available to us, like electronic filing and refund anticipation loans, April 15th is still a day that makes people anxious and frazzled.
But from now until April 30th, (for those that opt for an extension), Michaels will be providing free project directions to make your own custom beaded abacus on-line at Michaels.com

The abacus, meaning board" or calculating table" is a tool that has been used to calculate mathematics since ancient times. The abacus is a "frame with beads or balls sliding back and forth on wires on in slots, for doing or teaching arithmetic."

Easy to use and remarkably reliable for simple arithmetic, the abacus can also be used to work with fractions and with finding square and cube roots -- all powered by human finger.

The advantage of using an abacus over a pencil is time. Working with an abacus is faster than writing down the problem and solving it. One just needs to be accurate. You leave the memory work to the abacus frame.

The Chinese abacus has a center bar with rows of two beads above and rows of five beads below. All numbers are calculated from the center bar (which divides the two and five beads), and from right to left; and the answer is read left to right as traditionally taught in American schools. The beads are used to help keep track of the numbers beings used.

Each vertical row of beads represents a different multiple of 10 (1000,100, 10, and 1) The beads in every row below the center bar each stand for five of the unit. The beads must be pushed against the center bar to be counted.

·   To make numbers, bring the beads from the
ends of the rows to the center line.

·   To add numbers, push the number of beads needed to the center line.

·   To subtract numbers, push the number of beads away from the center line.

Here are some ideas for using your abacus...

·   Calculate the tip to leave after a meal

·   Impress your friends with your ability to figure math problems

·   Multiply the ingredients needed for recipe

·   Decide whether the discount on a sale item makes it worth the price

...All while innocently touching the beads at your wrist!

(Photos referenced here)

For questions or more contact Alicia Sheerin, I.Q. Promotions -- 610-521-5405 or by e-mail at iqpr@aol.com.