24 on an abacus

To show 24 on a soroban, read the rods from left to right: the millions column is clear with no active beads; the hundred-thousands column is set to zero; the ten-thousands column has no beads moved to the beam; the thousands column remains empty on this column; the hundreds column is clear with no active beads; the tens column represents 2 by keeping the upper bead away from the beam and moved upward 2 lower beads; the ones column reads 4 because the top bead stays clear while 4 lower beads are slid up.

1. Step 1. Start from a cleared soroban with every upper bead away from the beam and every lower bead resting at the bottom.
2. Step 2. Adjust the millions column to 0. the millions column is clear with no active beads.
3. Step 3. Configure the hundred-thousands rod for 0. That means the hundred-thousands column is set to zero.
4. Step 4. On the ten-thousands column, show 0. In practice, the ten-thousands column has no beads moved to the beam.
5. Step 5. Set the thousands column for 0. Here, the thousands column remains empty on this column.
6. Step 6. Adjust the hundreds column to 0. the hundreds column is clear with no active beads.
7. Step 7. Set the tens column for 2. Here, the tens column represents 2 by keeping the upper bead away from the beam and moved upward 2 lower beads.
8. Step 8. On the ones column, show 4. In practice, the ones column reads 4 because the top bead stays clear while 4 lower beads are slid up.
9. Step 9. Once every column is set, the soroban should read 24 across the full frame.