47 on an abacus

On a soroban, the number 47 is built with these column positions: the millions column is set to zero; the hundred-thousands column has no beads moved to the beam; the ten-thousands column remains empty on this column; the thousands column is clear with no active beads; the hundreds column is set to zero; the tens column reads 4 because the top bead stays clear while 4 lower beads are slid up; the ones column shows 7 with the upper bead active and 2 lower beads pushed up.

1. Step 1. Set the soroban to zero before you begin, keeping the upper beads separated from the beam and the lower beads at rest.
2. Step 2. Configure the millions rod for 0. That means the millions column is set to zero.
3. Step 3. On the hundred-thousands column, show 0. In practice, the hundred-thousands column has no beads moved to the beam.
4. Step 4. Set the ten-thousands column for 0. Here, the ten-thousands column remains empty on this column.
5. Step 5. Adjust the thousands column to 0. the thousands column is clear with no active beads.
6. Step 6. Configure the hundreds rod for 0. That means the hundreds column is set to zero.
7. Step 7. On the tens column, show 4. In practice, the tens column reads 4 because the top bead stays clear while 4 lower beads are slid up.
8. Step 8. Adjust the ones column to 7. the ones column shows 7 with the upper bead active and 2 lower beads pushed up.
9. Step 9. Finish by scanning the rods from the highest place to the units column and confirm the result is 47.