Level 2: Add & Subtract on the Abacus (Ages 6–8)
From direct bead moves to the Small Friend, Big Friend and Family formulas.
Level 2 is the heart of abacus mathematics. Ten chapters move from direct addition and subtraction to the complement formulas that let a child add or subtract any digit without ever running out of beads. Every problem is generated fresh, so practice never repeats.
Every chapter, three parts
- 1
Learn
One idea, five illustrated steps with the abacus drawn at each one
5 steps - 2
Practice
Solve each equation on your abacus, then confirm
5 problems - 3
Quiz
Four choices per question, stars saved on the lesson card
10 questions4 choicesUp to 3 stars
The 10 chapters
- 1
Earth Add
FreePush earth beads — results 1 to 4.
- 2
Heaven Add
FreeAdd with the heaven bead — direct moves only.
- 3
Earth Subtract
FreeEarth beads only — the heaven bead never moves.
- 4
Heaven Subtract
PremiumSubtract 5 and more — push the heaven bead away.
- 5
Meet Formulas
PremiumReference table: why, when and how to use bead formulas, with animated examples.
- 6
Small Friend +
Premium+1 = −4 +5 · +2 = −3 +5 · +3 = −2 +5 · +4 = −1 +5
- 7
Small Friend −
Premium−1 = +4 −5 · −2 = +3 −5 · −3 = +2 −5 · −4 = +1 −5
- 8
Big Friend +
Premium+1 = −9 +10 … +9 = −1 +10 — carrying to the tens rod on a two-column abacus.
- 9
Big Friend −
Premium−1 = +9 −10 … −9 = +1 −10 — borrowing from the tens rod on a two-column abacus.
- 10
Family
Premium−5 +10 and +5 −10 combined — when both friends are needed at once (two columns).
Watch the lessons
Free episodes from our YouTube series that teach what this level practises. All episodes →
Episode 3
Adding Two Numbers on the Abacus
The first addition on the abacus: set one number, then push more beads toward the beam to add the second — no formulas yet, just direct moves.
4:11 · Published 5 Sept 2026
Episode 5
Subtraction on the Abacus
Subtraction as the reverse of addition: pushing beads away from the beam to take a number away, one rod at a time.
3:52 · Published 18 Sept 2026
Episode 6
Adding & Subtracting on Two Rods
Working across the ones and tens rods at the same time: adding and taking away two-digit numbers with direct bead moves, one rod at a time.
4:20 · Published 24 Sept 2026
Episode 7
Abacus Small Friend Formula Explained
The first abacus formula: what to do when you need to add but the earth beads have run out — add 5 with the heaven bead and take away its Small Friend.
3:20 · Published 15 Oct 2026
Keep exploring
Start free today
Level 1 is completely free — no card, no trial clock. Download Abacus Kids and let your child move their first bead in minutes.
