Abacus Level 1: Small friends

What you’ll learn

• Why we need “friends” when there are not enough lower beads
• The 8 small-friend formulas
• 2–4 rows of 1- and 2-digit sums

Small friend formulas

• +1 = +5 −4
• +2 = +5 −3
• +3 = +5 −2
• +4 = +5 −1
• −1 = +4 −5
• −2 = +3 −5
• −3 = +2 −5
• −4 = +1 −5

▶ Watch it on the abacus

4 + 3 = 7: all four lower beads are already up, so +3 = +5 −2 → 9, then 7.

✏️ Practice

Work the sum on the abacus and press Check (or type the answer). Stuck? “Show me how”.

🏁 Level 1 test

20 sums. Work each sum on the abacus, press Check, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass the level.

🎓 Sign in with Google to get a certificate and the ⭐ Small Friends Star badge when you pass. You can still take the test without signing in.

🖨️ Level 1 worksheets

• Worksheet set 1
• Worksheet set 2
• Worksheet set 3