算法統宗 卷二
General Source of Computational Methods, Volume 2

Newly Compiled Straightforward Guide to the General Source of Computational Methods, Volume 2

Diagram for Distinguishing the Divisor and the Dividend, Left and Right

The Left Side (Dividend/Units of Weight and Currency)

• Ten-thousand
• Thousand
• Hundred
• Ten
• Tael A unit of weight, often for silver
• Mace One-tenth of a tael
• Candareen One-hundredth of a tael

The Right Side (Divisor/Units of Volume)

• Ten
• Dan A "stone" or bushel; a unit of dry volume for grain
• Dou One-tenth of a dan
• Sheng One-hundredth of a dan
• Ge One-thousandth of a dan

The Logic of Positioning:

The Dividend The number to be acted upon

• From the First Digit of the Dividend to the Last Digit of the Dividend.
• The Dividend acts as the Child In Chinese mathematics, the numerator of a fraction or the dividend is called the "child" (zǐ).
• It is Active Because this number changes as beads are moved during the calculation process.
• The leading positions are on the left; the next positions follow below.

The Divisor The number used to operate on the dividend

• From the First Digit of the Divisor to the Last Digit of the Divisor.
• The Divisor acts as the Mother The denominator or divisor is called the "mother" (mǔ).
• It is Static This number remains fixed on the abacus as a reference while the dividend is manipulated.