Unit 1 Math Project Chan

Unit 1 Math Project Teacher: Mr.
James Due Date 9/18/2014

Hyeong Chan Seo Grade 9 Page 1

Introduction
In our assessment we are trying to find out why and how does the marker on a chessboard
calculation math method work for addition, subtraction and multiplication if the numbers are expressed
as a binary notation.
The chessboard calculation method was invented by a Scottish mathematician John Napier
(1550 1617). This calculation method was written on his book Rabdologia, which was known to the
world after his death.
This type of calculation method was a great invention for the people back in those times
because there were no calculators, although people had to change it to a binary notation it was more
accurate than doing back then.
Addition
Example 1:
To get the sum of 78 and 96 first we need to turn 78 and 96
to be represented as a binary notation. So 78 would
become 64 (
+ 8 (
) + 4(
+ 2 (
. After turning 78
into a binary notation now we place the red makers in the
right column. We put 1 red marker for the 64 column, 1 for
8 columns, another one for 4 columns and lastly 1 for the 2
column. Next we would need to turn 96 into a binary
notation. 96 would be 64(
+ 32 (
. Then we would
place the red markers. We put 1 red marker for 64 columns
and 1 red marker for the 32 column.

We now have to add the red markers together. Now slide
the red markers into the first row. If there are 2 red markers
in the same column like 64 in this case put a purple marker.
So the purple marker would mean there are 2 red markers.
So the sum of 78 + 96 would be 64+64+32+8+4+2 which
would equal to 174.
So 78+96= 64+64+32+8+4+2
174= 174

Unit 1 Math Project Teacher: Mr. James Due Date 9/18/2014


Example 2:
To get the sum of 49 and 87 first we need to represent the
numbers in binary notation. So 49 would be 32 (
+ 16 (
+ 1
(
). After turning 49 to a binary notation we need to place the

red markers in the right column. We put 1 red marker for the 32
column, 1 for 16 columns and 1 for the 1 column. We place the
red markers in those places because our binary notation showed
32, 16, and 1. Now we need to turn 87 into a binary notation. So
87 would be 64 (
+ 16 (
+ 4 (
) + 2 (
+ 1 (
. Then we
put the red markers. We put 1 red marker for the 64 column, 16
columns, 4 columns, 2 columns and 1 column.
Now we have to add the red markers together. Slide the red
markers to the first row. If there are 2 red marker on the same
column put a purple column marker. So the purple marker would
mean there are 2 red markers. So the sum of 49 + 87 would be
64+32+16+16+4+2+1+1 which would equal to 136.
49+87 = 64+32+16+16+4+1+1
136 = 136

Example 3:
To get the sum of 88 and 33 first we need to represent the numbers
in binary notation. So 88 would be 64 (
+ 16 (
+ 8 (
). After
turning 88 to a binary notation we need to place the red markers in
the right column. We put 1 red marker for the 64 column, 1 for 16
columns and 1 for the 8 column. We place the red markers in those
places because our binary notation showed 64, 16, and 8. Now we
need to turn 87 into a binary notation. So 33 would be 32 (
+ 1
(
. Then we put the red markers. We put 1 red marker for the 64
column, 16 columns, 4 columns, 2 columns and 1 column.
Now we have to add the red markers together. Slide the red markers
to the first row. If there are 2 red marker on the same column put a
purple column marker. So the purple marker would mean there are
2 red markers but in this case there are no purple markers. So the
sum of 88 + 33 would be 64+32+16+8+1 which would equal to 121
88+33 = 64+32+16+8+1
121 = 121


Multiplication
Example 1:
To get the product of 19 and 8 first we need to get represent the 2
, 2 (
and 1
(
now we highlight the row of 16, 2, and 1 in the y axis. Since 8

is already a binary notation we highlight the column of 8 in the x
axis. We now place a red marker where the highlighted columns
and row intersect.

Now we slide the red markers diagonally (left) until it reaches the
first row. If there are 2 red markers put a purple marker to
represent there are 2 red markers. However in this case there are
no overlaps between the markers. So now we add the numbers
the red markers are sitting on. So it would be 128+16+8 which
would equal to 152
19x8=128+16+8
152 = 152

Example 2:
, 4 (
and 2 (

now we highlight the column of 8, 4, and 2 in the y axis. 12 would be 8
(
and 4 (
. Then we highlight the row of 8 and 4. We now place a

red marker where the highlighted columns and row intersect.

first row. If there are 2 red markers put a purple marker to represent
there are 2 red markers. So now we add the numbers the red
markers are sitting on and the purple markers are sitting on. So it
would be 64+32+32+16+16+8 which would equal to 168
14x12=64+32+32+16+16+8
168 = 168


Example 3:
and 2 (
now
we highlight the row of 4 and 2 in the y axis. 42 would be 32 (

8(
and 2 (
) then we highlight the column of 32, 8 and 2 in the x

axis. We now place a red marker where the highlighted columns and
row intersect.

first row. If there are 2 red markers put a purple marker to
represent there are 2 red markers. However in this case there are
no overlaps between the markers. So now we add the numbers the
red markers are sitting on. So it would be 128+64+32+16+8+4 which
would equal to 252
6x42=128+64+32+16+8+4
252 = 252

Questions
Would the chessboard calculation method work with standard decimal addition?
The chessboard calculation method would work with standard decimal addition. The addition of
the whole numbers and decimals are quite the same, however it is a bit more confusing in some ways
and a little bit more difficult. To make standard decimal addition work with the chess board calculation
method we need two chessboards; 1 board for whole numbers, and other board for decimals. We would
have the whole number chessboard on the left side and the decimal chessboard on the right. Then we
would simply do the whole number addition on the left and do the decimal addition on the right. Here
are three examples to show.
Show 3 example



Example 1 (37.18 + 20.16)

To get the sum of 37.18 and 20.16 we first need to represent these numbers into a binary notation. We
would represent the binary notation of 37 and 20 on the left side of the board (the brown line is the left
and right divider). Then we would represent the binary notations of the decimals on the right board.
When we represent the decimals into a binary notation we can treat 0.18 and 0.16 as a whole number
like 18 and 16.

Now we can slide the markers down to the 1
st
row and we can sum it up. If there are overlapping
markers on one column replace the green marker to a blue marker. Then we get the sum of the left
board. So 32+16+4+4+1 then it would equal to 57. Next we get the sum of the right board. 2+16+16 then
it would equal to 34. Now we can add the sum of the left board with the right board. Since the right
board represents the decimal we need to place 0. infront of the sum so it would be 0.34 then we add
the sun of the left board and the right board together.
57+0.34= 57.34



Example 2

like 20 and 30.

st
board. So 64+32+8+8 then it would equal to 112. Next we get the sum of the right board. 2+4+8+16 then
it would equal to 30. Now we can add the sum of the left board with the right board. Since the right
board represents the decimal we need to place 0. infront of the sum so it would be 0.30 then we add
the sun of the left board and the right board together.
112+0.30 = 112.30



Example 3

like 68 and 13.

st
board. So 64+32+16+8+2+1 then it would equal to 125. Next we get the sum of the right board.
4+4+8+64 then it would equal to 81. Now we can add the sum of the left board with the right board.
Since the right board represents the decimal we need to place 0. infront of the sum so it would be 0.81
then we add the sun of the left board and the right board together.
125+0.81 = 112.81
*For addition of decimals if the sum of the right board goes over 100 then the hundredth digit
becomes a 1 digit in the whole numbers.

Advantages of binary notation calculation
The advantage of using binary notation calculation method is that it is easy to get the answer for
the math equations we are not able to do in our head without using a calculator. However if the question
is too complicated it doesnt work with the chessboard calculations; I will talk about this in the other


paragraphs. Lets say we are faced with a question 32 x 16, to do this in our head is quite difficult but it is
really easy to do it using the chessboard method because since 32 and 16 is a perfect binary notation by
itself we just need to insert into our board and slide it diagonal to get the answer of 512. To get this
answer in our head we probably would have taken a longer time and it wouldnt be as precise as the
chessboard method. It is the same with addition and subtraction as long as we are able to change the
numbers into a binary notation; every equation becomes easier and more accurate with the binary notation
calculation method.
What are the limits of this addition method?
To talk about the limitations the chessboard method brings us is that it is really hard and
complicated if we go in massive numbers. If we were to do 826912 + 246288 using the chessboard it
would be almost impossible to do it. There are few reasons why. 1 is that the board would be insanely big
because it would go up over 2 to the power of 10 which means we have to make gridded lines forever. 2
because we would need too much markers, either we draw the marker or place the marker it would take a
long period of time to do it. 3 it would take a long time to actually even to change those numbers into a
binary notation. So the overall limitation is that if the numbers are too big, instead of making it easier and
precise, it would make it harder, time consuming and imprecise because of the confusion it brings.
Subtraction?
It is possible to do subtraction using the chessboard calculation method. However it is a lot
more complicated but still I will show 3 examples with explanations to go along with my examples.
Example 1
To do a standard subtraction we need to put the bigger number on
top of the row and the smaller number below. Then we represent
the numbers and place it on the column it fits like the same as
addition. We do that for both numbers.

Then we shift the markers on top to the left (can only move to the
left) so that there is at least 1 marker on top of the marker below. If
we have shifted to the left we represent the marker as a purple
because it was 2 twice as bigger as the column on the right. Then we
subtract and then add. (16+16-16)+4
Then we can get a sum of 20



Example 2
To do a standard subtraction we need to put the bigger
number on top of the row and the smaller number below.
Then we represent the numbers and place it on the column it
fits like the same as addition. We do that for both numbers. In
this case there are no markers to shift we just do the
subtraction and then add.
(64-64)+4+2+1

Example 3
To do a standard subtraction we need to put the bigger
number on top of the row and the smaller number below.
Then we represent the numbers and place it on the column it
fits like the same as addition. We do that for both numbers

This is step is bit complicated so I will explain it a bit differently.
We move the marker from column 16 to column 8. Then there
will be a purple marker on column 8. Then we move a marker
from column 8 to column 4, by doing this step there will be a red
marker on column 8 because the purple marker means that there
are 2 red markers so by moving 1 marker there will be 1 marker
left on the original column. Then there will be a purple marker on
column 2. Then we subtract and add.
(8-8) + (4-4) + (2+2-2) + 1



Why does the multiplication method work?
The multiplication method work using a chessboard calculator because its like multiplying big
numbers after we have divided it into components. It is similar to this method: for example we have 32
and 26 first we split 32 into 30 and 2, then we split 26 into 20 and 6. Next we multiply 30 to 20 and 6
and we add the product of that, to the product of 2 multiplied to 20 and 6 and we will get the answer of
832. However the chessboard calculator method is not the same it is a bit different. Instead of splitting it
into the tens digit and the ones digit it represents the numbers as a binary notation then it multiplies
and adds the products together getting the same sum as we get just by doing the normal multiplication.
What are the limits of the multiplication method?
The limitation of this multiplication method is quite similar to the limitations of the additive
method. When the numbers get bigger naturally the markers will be placed further up because it will be in
a bigger binary notation. However when the markers are placed really far up it will cause problems when
we slide the markers diagonal. The reason is since we need to move the markers diagonal to the left we
need a wide space to move our markers diagonal if they are higher up. The lower ones dont really matter
because it only moves 1-2 spaces. However when the markers are up high they need to move around 7-10
spaces diagonally but that means the board will need to be massive and will conclude into similar limits
we have faced on the limitations of the additive method. It will be time consuming, confusing because of
the displacement of markers, and imprecise because of the confusions. Then soon we wouldnt be able to
conduct the multiplication.
Conclusion
In conclusion tokens on a chessboard is a method a Scottish mathematician John Napier (1550-
1617) invented. With this method we can calculate subtractions, additions, decimal additions and even
multiplications. The advantages of using this method are that we are able to calculate numbers easier and
faster with more accuracy. This method is very simple because as long as we follow the rules we will
always get the correct answer. Multiplication using this method works because we are just simply
representing and splitting the numbers into a binary notation to conduct smaller multiplications then
adding them up to get the sum. There are also advantages of expressing numbers as a binary notation.
When we express large numbers with a binary notation we can shorten the number and makes it easier to
see and read. But this method also has some limits on addition and multiplications. In additions if the
numbers we are trying to add are too big, the numbers cannot fit in the board making it take longer and
imprecise because of the confusion. Then we lose the whole point in using this method. Same goes for
multiplication. As the numbers increase the numbers will be placed higher up, and when we try to slide
the markers diagonally it will be displaced also causing confusion, and will take a long time to do. Tokens
on a chessboard is a really precise and easy way of doing calculations. It was especially effective when
there were no calculators around the period.
Citiations- http://courses.cs.vt.edu/~cs1104/Napier/Chessboard.html
I used this website to create my examples.



Unit 1 Math Project Chan

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Unit 1 Math Project Teacher: Mr.

James Due Date 9/18/2014

). After turning 49 to a binary notation we need to place the

now we highlight the row of 16, 2, and 1 in the y axis. Since 8

. Then we highlight the row of 8 and 4. We now place a

) then we highlight the column of 32, 8 and 2 in the x

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