I don't think that is the message here. In fact, you can use an abacus (or Peruvian beads, or a slide rule) to calculate just about any number. You are certainly correct to note that many abstract and essential mathematical concepts are vital to engineering, but utilizing them is not dependent on using conventional, modern, western tools. It is pretty clear that as a sociological study, it is useful to study ways that other cultures have learned and developed math. After all, it is only recently that the west developed standardized weights and measures (still not used in the most technologically advanced state in history, by the way!!). One only needs to go to the gas station to get a *gallon* of gas, derived from a *barrel* of crude oil, and then stop for a *pint* of beer on the way home, to get thinking about the vagaries of counting methods. Incidentally, your example would be trivial, because all the hard parts would be done on paper using esoteric symbols in a gibberish language (e, pi, i, etc) anyway, and then all you have to do is enter the desired height, length, weight, etc, and calculate. You can certainly do that on a Peruvian bead counter...