Abacus in the world Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Abacus in the world - Research Paper Example mechanical frame containing several rods on which are mounted wooden beads which can be slid manually into different positions and combinations to represent numbers† (188). Materials used to make early abacuses in different regions varied. For example, among the Maya and Aztec people of Mesoamerica, maize kernels threaded on strings were used instead of beads, while the Inca people who lived in Peru centuries ago had an abacus that was made up of a â€Å"tray with compartments that were arranged in rows in which counters were moved in order to make calculations† (Keoke and Porterfield 1). The abacus originated from the Middle East thousands of years ago. Jain asserts that its evolution took place in 3000 B.C. (7). Darling points out that â€Å"the word appears to come from the Hebrew á ºÅ¡bá ºÅ¡q (dust) or the Phoenician abak (sand) via the Greek abax, which refers to a small tray covered with sand to hold the pebbles steady† (3). Over the centuries, there have been different types of abacuses. The first type was called suanpan and was used in China in 1300 (Barnes-Svarney and Svarney 349). There is no agreement regarding who invented this type of abacus but it is that believed it was the Chinese, Japanese or Koreans. Barnes-Svarney and Svarney affirm that â€Å"although merchants used this type of abacus for standard addition and subtraction operations, it could also be used to determine square and cube roots of numbers† (349). The other type of abacus was the soroban or the Japanese abacus. Apart from the fact that it lacked a bead in the upper and lower deck of every column, it was very similar to the Chinese abacus. The Roman abacus also had one bead lacking from the upper and lower deck of every column making it very similar to the Japanese abacus. According to Barnes-Svarney and Svarney, â€Å"the Russians also have their own version of an abacus; it uses ten beads on each wire, and a single deck† (349). To separate the two wires, a wire with fewer beads is

Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 21

Research Paper Example er, images of female beauty portrayed by most advertisement, communication, and interaction platforms, make women to adopt unhealthy living habits, as they strive to meet the over exaggerated standards of being beautiful. This trend has brought about research by various scholars into the effect of media on women’s view of beauty, pointing to reduced self-esteem, among other negative issues associated with unrealistic body images. This paper explores and critically analyzes existing scholarly evidence, showing the relationship that exists between media and the rise in women’s unhealthy habits like eating disorders, as they practice beauty. The subject bears a huge impact, given the pervasive nature of media and accompanying socio-cultural expectation of women to be symbols of physical perfection. Prior to analyzing the effect of media in shaping the beginning of female beauty and body image, it is important to first understand the meaning of this aspect. According to Luff and Gray (133), body image refers to â€Å"the inner representation of a person’s outer appearance.† This means that one’s body image is a reflection of both physical and abstract views about their appearance. These scholars also emphasize that body image is linked to the self-concept and self-esteem. For instance, a negative perception of one’s body image translates to highly reduced self-esteem and subsequent dissatisfaction with oneself. Body image is particularly of concern during adolescence and young adulthood, since it is in the course of this phase that individuals undergo numerous and rapid physical and mental changes that pave way for self-discovery. It is also during this important developmental stage that people, especially girls and young women become more vulnerable to external influence from peers and information sources like various forms of media. With coverage to media increasingly becoming prominent and provocative by day, body image is certainly a major topic of