GB2326960A - Teaching aid for arithmetic - Google Patents
Teaching aid for arithmetic Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2326960A GB2326960A GB9714165A GB9714165A GB2326960A GB 2326960 A GB2326960 A GB 2326960A GB 9714165 A GB9714165 A GB 9714165A GB 9714165 A GB9714165 A GB 9714165A GB 2326960 A GB2326960 A GB 2326960A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- counting
- base
- anyone
- elements
- track member
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06G—ANALOGUE COMPUTERS
- G06G1/00—Hand manipulated computing devices
- G06G1/02—Devices in which computing is effected by adding, subtracting, or comparing lengths of parallel or concentric graduated scales
- G06G1/04—Devices in which computing is effected by adding, subtracting, or comparing lengths of parallel or concentric graduated scales characterised by construction
- G06G1/06—Devices in which computing is effected by adding, subtracting, or comparing lengths of parallel or concentric graduated scales characterised by construction with rectilinear scales, e.g. slide rule
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
- G09B1/00—Manually or mechanically operated educational appliances using elements forming, or bearing, symbols, signs, pictures, or the like which are arranged or adapted to be arranged in one or more particular ways
- G09B1/02—Manually or mechanically operated educational appliances using elements forming, or bearing, symbols, signs, pictures, or the like which are arranged or adapted to be arranged in one or more particular ways and having a support carrying or adapted to carry the elements
- G09B1/04—Manually or mechanically operated educational appliances using elements forming, or bearing, symbols, signs, pictures, or the like which are arranged or adapted to be arranged in one or more particular ways and having a support carrying or adapted to carry the elements the elements each bearing a single symbol or a single combination of symbols
- G09B1/06—Manually or mechanically operated educational appliances using elements forming, or bearing, symbols, signs, pictures, or the like which are arranged or adapted to be arranged in one or more particular ways and having a support carrying or adapted to carry the elements the elements each bearing a single symbol or a single combination of symbols and being attachable to, or mounted on, the support
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
- G09B1/00—Manually or mechanically operated educational appliances using elements forming, or bearing, symbols, signs, pictures, or the like which are arranged or adapted to be arranged in one or more particular ways
- G09B1/02—Manually or mechanically operated educational appliances using elements forming, or bearing, symbols, signs, pictures, or the like which are arranged or adapted to be arranged in one or more particular ways and having a support carrying or adapted to carry the elements
- G09B1/04—Manually or mechanically operated educational appliances using elements forming, or bearing, symbols, signs, pictures, or the like which are arranged or adapted to be arranged in one or more particular ways and having a support carrying or adapted to carry the elements the elements each bearing a single symbol or a single combination of symbols
- G09B1/06—Manually or mechanically operated educational appliances using elements forming, or bearing, symbols, signs, pictures, or the like which are arranged or adapted to be arranged in one or more particular ways and having a support carrying or adapted to carry the elements the elements each bearing a single symbol or a single combination of symbols and being attachable to, or mounted on, the support
- G09B1/14—Manually or mechanically operated educational appliances using elements forming, or bearing, symbols, signs, pictures, or the like which are arranged or adapted to be arranged in one or more particular ways and having a support carrying or adapted to carry the elements the elements each bearing a single symbol or a single combination of symbols and being attachable to, or mounted on, the support the elements being slidably mounted on the support
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
- G09B19/00—Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass
- G09B19/02—Counting; Calculating
Description
Title: Teaching Aid for Arithmetic
The present invention relates to apparatus for use in teaching arithmetical processes including at least one of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and preferably all four, but without limitation to same.
According to the present invention there is provided apparatus comprising at least one elongate base or track member having markings comprising a sequence of numbers and/or symbols which may be representative of said numbers and providing the base or track with a plurality of divisions of equal unit length; and one or more counting modules for use in association with the base or track member, the counting module being selected from a plurality of counting elements of fixed length whose length is a multiple of said unit lengths, or a counting element having means by which its length is selectably incrementable, as hereindefined and hereinafter referred to as an incremental counting element.
The base or track member conveniently incorporates a longitudinal groove which is dimensioned to receive slidably therein at least part of said counting element.
Alternatively said counting element may be grooved to receive and slide on an elongate track member. Conveniently mutually complementary projection and recess means is provided on the base and the counting elements to aid longitudinal positioning relative to the unit length divisions. A particularly convenient arrangement is provided by a spring loaded ball element and a co-operating recess.
Conveniently a series of recesses are provided at intervals spaced along the length of the base or track member - said spacings corresponding to said unit lengths - and each counting element may be provided with one spring loaded ball element.
A plurality of the aforementioned fixed length counting elements are provided.
There will be different lengths of fixed length counting elements and it is preferred to have a plurality of each length. At least the width of the fixed length element is dimensioned to be complementary to the width of the recess in the base member preferably so as to be slidable therealong. In one embodiment the cross-section of each fixed length element corresponds to the cross-section of the recess in the base member. Alternatively it can be advantageous if the depth of the fixed length counting element is greater than the depth of the groove in order to aid gripping and movement of the element in use.
The fixed length counting elements conveniently have division markings corresponding to said unit lengths and preferably carry a marking indicative of the unit length of the counting element. Either or both of these markings are not necessarily on the surface of the counting elements. They may be on the sides, or base, so as not to be visible whilst the counting elements are in use.
The or each incremental counting element comprises a body of fixed length and one or more moveable elements, conveniently in the form of a shutter or more preferably a plurality of individually moveable shutters or the like. The position of the shutter or shutters dictates the arithmetic length of the counting element.
Part of the body of the incremental counting element is dimensioned for cooperating engagement with the base or track member. Preferably the element is slidably moveable with respect to the track member. The moveable elements are moveable in such a way that when the incremental counting element is in cooperating engagement with the base or track member, in one position the moveable elements obscure the numbers on the base or track and in another position the numbers onthe base or track are revealed. Where individually moveable elements are provided on a unit length basis then movement of any one element reveals or conceals one number on the track member. This is to be preferred, and the preferred mechanism uses shutters which slide in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base member. In another embodiment the shutters may pivot in a plane normal to said longitudinal axis. The preferred selectable incrementable counting elements are higher than the depth of the groove in the base and the projecting part accommodates the shutters. Accordingly these incrementable counting elements are easily grasped and moved around.
In an alternative embodiment a single shutter is provided which is slidable in the longitudinal direction thereby revealing the numbers in sequence.
The apparatus preferably further comprises a blocking element which has a part dimensioned to be cooperable slidably with the base or track member and an offset part which blocks off numbers on the base or track member. The blocking element is used in conjunction with an incremental counting element and serves as a positioning element for same. Thus it determines the longitudinal position of the incremental counting element with respect to the base or track member. Preferably there is an addition blocking element and a subtraction blocking element although one blocking element could serve both purposes. For convenience colour coding is employed. Thus elements to be used for addition are all one colour and elements to be used for subtraction are another colour. Preferable the base or track is a different colour and the fixed length counting element yet another colour.
Means may be provided for securing two or more track members together in end to end relation.
The above described apparatus and the method of use will now be described further hereinafter by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a base or track member according to one embodiment,
Figures 2a and 2b are perspective views of two alternative fixed length counting elements,
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an incremental counting element,
Figures 4a and 4b are perspective views of blocking elements for addition and subtraction respectively,
Figure 4c is a perspective view of the underside of the blocking element figure 4b
Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating use of fixed length counting elements with a base member,
Figure 6 is a plan view illustrating elements for use in addition, and
Figure 7 is a plan view illustrating elements for use in subtraction.
Figure 1 illustrates a base or track member 1 having a longitudinal groove 3 formed in an upper side thereof. A wing 5 to one side of the groove carries markings, conveniently lines 7, creating a number of equal length divisions. The divisions are numbered and in the illustrated embodiment are numbered 1 through to 13. In the illustrated embodiment the left hand end is un-numbered and corresponds in length to the unit division or a multiple thereof. This may be omitted. In practice the base will be longer than that illustrated, perhaps having twenty equal length divisions.
Figures 2a and 2b illustrate fixed length counting elements, each comprising a rectangular section elongate member. Figure 2a is three units long and Figure 2b is four units long. The width corresponds substantially with the cross section of the groove 3, but has a greater depth in order to better facilitate handling.
Reference is now made to Figure 5 which illustrates the left hand end of a base or track member 1 and two fixed length counting elements 9. The left hand counting element 9 has its left most division aligned with the unit division numbered 1 of the base and as it is three units long occupies three unit divisions of the base.
The right hand fixed length counting member 9 is placed up to the end of the left hand counting element and as in this illustration it has a unit length of 3 it occupies a further three unit divisions of the base member. This serves to illustrate that 3 plus 3 equals 6 ie. the number on the rightward most division of those divisions occupied by the two counting elements. On the other hand the same counters can be used to demonstrate multiplication ie. 2 x 3 = 6. Counting elements of the same length have to be used for multiplication whereas for addition different lengths of counting elements can be employed. This identical set-up also demonstrates division. In this case 6 - 3 is illustrated. The number of elements which fill the space constitutes the result of dividing the initial number (on the base) opposite the right end of the rightmost element base - by the value of each fixed length element.
Reference is now made to Figure 3 which illustrates one embodiment of an incremental counting element. It comprises a body 20 having a width which is dimensioned to be received within the groove 3 of the base or track member 1 and is provided with a plurality of shutters 22 which are slidably received in a respective plurality of apertures 24. Seven shutters are shown in the illustrated embodiment although this is not to be taken as limiting. The preferred embodiment of incremental counting element has ten shutters. As illustrated the sliders are moveable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the counting element. The sliders are moveable to extend from one side or the other of the body 20 and their use will be described further hereinafter with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Conveniently the shutters are limited in their movement so that they move laterally no more than is required to cover, or uncover, the numbers on the base. Rods screwed through the base of the body engage within stopped grooves milled into the slider bases.
Referring now to Figure 4a, a blocking element is illustrated which comprises a body portion 28 dimensioned to be received in the groove 3 of the base or track member 1 and a lateral offset portion 30 which projects to one side of the body 28.
One end may be cut away or provided with aperturing 32 or may be constructed of transparent material 33 say over unit length A compared with an obscure portion B.
The purpose of this will become apparent hereinafter with reference to Figure 6.
Figure 6 illustrates how incremental counting element 3, a blocking element 4a and a track member 1 are used as a teaching aid for addition. For the purpose of the example, 3 is being added to 2. Thus the blocking element is positioned in the groove 3 and moved slidably so that the number 2 on the track is visible in the cut away, transparent or apertured portion A of the blocking element. The incremental slider element is then placed into the groove 3 having had all its sliders moved into a position whereby they cover numbers on the track member, and the counting element is moved to the left until it abuts the end of the blocking element. Three sliders starting at the left hand end are then moved to reveal the numbers on the track member. The last and highest number revealed is the figure 5 which is the sum of 2 and 3. Of course only the third shutter could be removed to reveal the desired result.
Figure 4b illustrates a blocking element for use in performing subtraction and comprises a body 28' dimensioned to be received in groove 3 and an offset portion 30' which in this instance extends the full length of the body. Figure 7 illustrates use of the blocking member shown in 4b and an incremental counting element of Figure 3 for purpose of subtraction. In the example 2 is to be subtracted from 11 and accordingly the blocking element is positioned in the groove 3 so that the left hand end of the offset portion 30' is immediately to the right of the number 11. Thereafter the incremental counting element is positioned in the groove having first moved all the slider elements so that all the numbers are visible. The incremental counting element is moved up to the blocking element and the number of slider elements corresponding to the numbers to be subtracted from 11 are moved to obscure numbers on the track member starting at the right hand end of the incremental counting element. As illustrated in the example the number visible to the left of the slider element is the result of subtracting 2 from l l ie. 9.
For ease of positioning of the blocking elements is it preferred to provide a projection and recess means which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a spring ball 40 mounted to the underside of the body 28,28' of the blocking elements and complementary recesses 42 are disposed in the base of the groove 3. Such projection means may be provided on the incremental counting elements or the fixed length counting elements if felt desirable.
The base or track member does not have to be straight. It may be curved and
the fixed length counting elements, for example, may be shaped into forms attractive
to children, for example to represent railway trains or animals.
The apparatus may be used to teach basic understanding of negative numbers
by extending in the negative direction.
Claims (33)
1. Apparatus comprising at least one elongate base or track member having
markings comprising a sequence of numbers and/or symbols which may be
representative of said numbers and providing the base or track with a plurality
of divisions of equal unit length; and one or more counting modules for use in
association with the base or track member, the counting module being selected
from a plurality of counting elements of fixed length whose length is a
multiple of said unit lengths or a counting element having means by which its
length is selectably incrementable, as hereindefined and hereinafter referred to
as an incremental counting element.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the base or track member
incorporates a longitudinal groove which is dimensioned to receive slidably
therein at least part of said counting elements.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said counting element is grooved to
slide on an elongate track member.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 in which complementary projection
and recess means is provided on the base and the counting elements to aid
longitudinal positioning relative to the unit length divisions.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the mutually complementary
projection and recess means comprises a spring loaded ball element and a co
operating recess.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which a series of recesses are provided at
intervals spaced along the length of the base or track member - said spacings
corresponding to said unit lengths - and each counting element is provided
with one spring loaded ball element.
7. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which a plurality of
the aforementioned fixed length counting elements are provided.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which there are different lengths of fixed
length counting elements.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which there are a plurality of each length.
10. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which at least the
width of the fixed length element is dimensioned to be complementary to the
width of the recess in the base member.
11 Apparatus as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the cross
section of each fixed length element corresponds to the cross-section of the
recess in the base.
12. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 10 in which the depth of the
fixed length counting element is greater than the depth of the groove in order
to aid gripping and movement of the element in use.
13. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the fixed
length counting elements have division markings corresponding to said unit
lengths.
14. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the fixed
length counting element carry a marking indicative of the unit length of the
counting element.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the or each incremental counting
element comprises a body of fixed length and one or more moveable elements.
16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which the moveable elements are in the
form of one or more individually moveable shutters.
17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which the position of the shutters dictates
the arithmetic length of the counting element.
18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claims 15, 16 or 17 in which part of the
body of the incremental counting element is dimensioned for cooperating
engagement with the base or track member.
19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claims 15, 16, 17 or 18 in which the
element is slidably moveable with respect to the track member.
20. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 15 to 19 in which the moveable
elements are moveable in such a way that when the incremental counting
element is in cooperating engagement with the base or track member, in one
position the moveable elements obscure the numbers on the base or track and
in another position the numbers on the base or track are revealed.
21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 in which movement of anyone element
reveals or conceals one number on the track member.
22. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 16 to 21 in which the shutters slide
in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base member.
23. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 16 to 21 in which the shutters pivot
in a plane normal to said longitudinal axis.
24. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 15 to 23 in which the selectable
incremental counting elements are higher than the depth of the groove in the
base and the projecting part accommodates the moveable elements.
25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 15 in which a single shutter is
provided which is slidable in the longitudinal direction thereby revealing the
numbers in sequence.
26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or anyone of claims 15 to 25 and further
comprising a blocking element which has a part dimensioned to be cooperable
slidably with the base or track member and an offset part which blocks off
numbers on the base or track member.
27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 in which the blocking element is used in
conjunction with an incremental counting element and serves as a positioning
element for same.
28. Apparatus as claimed in claims 26 or 27 in which there is an addition blocking
element and a subtraction blocking element.
29. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which elements to
be used for addition are all one colour and the elements to be used for
subtraction are another colour.
30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 29 in which the base or track is a different
colour and the fixed length counting element yet another colour.
31. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims and comprising means
to secure two or more track members together in end to end relation.
32. Apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
33. A method of performing arithmetic using apparatus according to anyone of
claims 1 to 32.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9714165A GB2326960A (en) | 1997-07-05 | 1997-07-05 | Teaching aid for arithmetic |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9714165A GB2326960A (en) | 1997-07-05 | 1997-07-05 | Teaching aid for arithmetic |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9714165D0 GB9714165D0 (en) | 1997-09-10 |
| GB2326960A true GB2326960A (en) | 1999-01-06 |
Family
ID=10815399
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9714165A Withdrawn GB2326960A (en) | 1997-07-05 | 1997-07-05 | Teaching aid for arithmetic |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2326960A (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2357174A (en) * | 2000-10-11 | 2001-06-13 | Michael Jerrold Oppenheim | Teaching apparatus for arithmetic |
| GB2383182A (en) * | 2001-10-16 | 2003-06-18 | Kim Lesley Ridgeway | Mathematical learning device comprising indicia bearing rods. |
| GB2458652A (en) * | 2008-03-25 | 2009-09-30 | Richenda Ellis | Mathematical learning aid |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2494469A (en) * | 1946-09-13 | 1950-01-10 | Morris F Booth | Educational toy |
| GB762586A (en) * | 1953-11-05 | 1956-11-28 | Hilary Page Sensible Toys Ltd | Apparatus for use as an educational aid |
| US3410002A (en) * | 1966-10-24 | 1968-11-12 | Eric H. Mulholland | Educational aid for teaching mathematics |
| GB2152266A (en) * | 1983-12-31 | 1985-07-31 | Wang Yao Psong | Multi-purpose instructing device |
| US5297965A (en) * | 1993-04-12 | 1994-03-29 | Manancero Sergio O | Mathematical and spatial toy apparatus |
-
1997
- 1997-07-05 GB GB9714165A patent/GB2326960A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2494469A (en) * | 1946-09-13 | 1950-01-10 | Morris F Booth | Educational toy |
| GB762586A (en) * | 1953-11-05 | 1956-11-28 | Hilary Page Sensible Toys Ltd | Apparatus for use as an educational aid |
| US3410002A (en) * | 1966-10-24 | 1968-11-12 | Eric H. Mulholland | Educational aid for teaching mathematics |
| GB2152266A (en) * | 1983-12-31 | 1985-07-31 | Wang Yao Psong | Multi-purpose instructing device |
| US5297965A (en) * | 1993-04-12 | 1994-03-29 | Manancero Sergio O | Mathematical and spatial toy apparatus |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2357174A (en) * | 2000-10-11 | 2001-06-13 | Michael Jerrold Oppenheim | Teaching apparatus for arithmetic |
| GB2383182A (en) * | 2001-10-16 | 2003-06-18 | Kim Lesley Ridgeway | Mathematical learning device comprising indicia bearing rods. |
| GB2458652A (en) * | 2008-03-25 | 2009-09-30 | Richenda Ellis | Mathematical learning aid |
| GB2458717A (en) * | 2008-03-25 | 2009-09-30 | Richenda Ellis | Learning aid |
| GB2458717B (en) * | 2008-03-25 | 2010-05-05 | Richenda Ellis | Learning aid |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9714165D0 (en) | 1997-09-10 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |