People need to know exactly how an abacus works and how to use it effectively to produce the correct answers to abacus math problems calculated on the abacus. These details on how to use the abacus is of special importance and value to all the private math tutors who provide lessons as well as the parents of the enrolled children as well as the children who attend any of the two Math Genie schools in the state of New Jersey in the United States of America. Unit points on the crosspiece of an abacus are usually placed one every fifth upright. Unit points are use to indicate €ones', €thousands', €millions', €billions' and so on. In order to use the abacus effectively with your fingers you need to know how to manipulate your fingers.

There are three ways that you can push the counters on an abacus. The first way is to use only the forefinger. The second way is using the thumb and forefinger. The third way is using the thumb, forefinger and middle finger. The third one is the method with the thumb. Of these three ways, the second one using the thumb and forefinger is recommended, it being the best and easiest. Thumb used to: "Put in" counters in the lower part. Forefinger used to: "Take off" the counters in the lower part. "Put in" a counter in the upper part. €Take off' a counter in the upper part. €Put in' means pushing the counters of the abacus toward the crosspiece. €Take off" means pushing the counters away from the crosspiece.

Students of the abacus will also need to know how to manipulate the counters or beads on the abacus itself. The manipulation consists of the following six motions namely, putting in counters, taking off counters, putting in five counter and taking off one-counter, putting in one-counter and taking off five counter, taking off counter of ones place and putting in a counter of tens place and lastly taking off a counters of tens' place and putting in counters of ones' place. Students need to take note of the fact that in order to indicate 1the number or total of ten, a counter in the lower part on the next upright to the left is put in. This means that a counter in tens' place is put in. It is imperative that all students of the abacus pay attention to the detailed descriptions given here on how to practically use and apply the abacus to specific abacus math for kids problem calculations.