69 on an abacus

This soroban layout for 69 can be understood rod by rod: the millions column remains empty on this column; the hundred-thousands column is clear with no active beads; the ten-thousands column is set to zero; the thousands column has no beads moved to the beam; the hundreds column remains empty on this column; the tens column reads 6 because the upper bead is engaged and 1 lower bead are slid up; the ones column shows 9 with the upper bead active and 4 lower beads pushed up.

1. Step 1. Begin with a reset soroban: upper beads released and all lower beads resting below the beam.
2. Step 2. Set the millions column for 0. Here, the millions column remains empty on this column.
3. Step 3. Adjust the hundred-thousands column to 0. the hundred-thousands column is clear with no active beads.
4. Step 4. Configure the ten-thousands rod for 0. That means the ten-thousands column is set to zero.
5. Step 5. On the thousands column, show 0. In practice, the thousands column has no beads moved to the beam.
6. Step 6. Set the hundreds column for 0. Here, the hundreds column remains empty on this column.
7. Step 7. On the tens column, show 6. In practice, the tens column reads 6 because the upper bead is engaged and 1 lower bead are slid up.
8. Step 8. Adjust the ones column to 9. the ones column shows 9 with the upper bead active and 4 lower beads pushed up.
9. Step 9. Read the rods from left to right to confirm that the soroban now represents 69.