The Chinese suan pan is different than the European abacus

+1C

IMO C since the reasons for A.B, and E are correct
One more info:
In that is always used in the IDIOM:
X differs from Y "IN THAT"

hope it helps!

IMO C since the reasons for A.B, and E are correct
One more info:
In that is always used in the IDIOM:
X differs from Y "IN THAT"

hope it helps!

i have edited my post above.
In that is used on both C and D but then u need to look at some other issues as well.
Here " representing the digits 0 through 4, each in the bottom" is correct ---> if we see D "representing the digits 0 through 4, on each in the bottom" what does ON EACH represent... its nothing so just KILL D!!
i hope this clears your doubt..

cheers!

B. The Chinese suan pan differs from the European abacus because the board is split into two decks, having two beads for each rod in the upper deck and five beads, representing the digits 0 and 4, on each in the bottom.

The Chinese suan pan is different than the European abacus in that the board is split into two decks, with two beads on each rod in the upper deck and five beads on each in the bottom, representing the digits 0 through 4.

Let's understand the meaning first:
CSP is different from EA.
CSP has the board split into two decks
CSP has two beads on each rod in the upper deck, and five beads on each rod in the bottom. The beads in the lower represent digits from 0 to 4.

Let's check the errors in the sentence:
Well, first of all, the idiom is wrongly used. It should be X differs from Y.
Second, the modifier - representing the digits 0 through 4 - is put at the end of the sentence, thus modifying the entire preceded clause; this is illogical.

A. The Chinese suan pan is different than the European abacus in that the board is split into two decks, with two beads on each rod in the upper deck and five beads on each in the bottom, representing the digits 0 through 4.
wrong as discussed.

B. The Chinese suan pan differs from the European abacus because the board is split into two decks, having two beads for each rod in the upper deck and five beads, representing the digits 0 and 4, on each in the bottom.
well, looks better than A, but has a crucial modifier error.
having two beads ... -> this is an ing modifier. Ing modifier has 2 roles: 1-giving reasoning for the preceded clause (because it is split into two decks, it is having two beads...); 2-presenting results of the preceded clause (because it is split into two decks, it thus have ...). Neither role is working here, thus B is out.

C. The Chinese suan pan differs from the European abacus in that the board is split into two decks, with two beads on each rod in the upper deck and five beads, representing the digits 0 through 4, each in the bottom.
this one is almost perfect, but, the preposition "on" before "each" is missing, thus making C an incorrect answer.

D. The Chinese suan pan differs from the European abacus in that the board is split into two decks, with two beads on each rod in the upper deck and five beads, representing the digits 0 through 4, on each in the bottom.
Corrects the error in A. Looks good.

E. The Chinese suan pan differs from the European abacus due to the fact that the board has been split into two decks, with two beads on each rod in the upper deck and five beads, which are representative of the digits 0 through 4, on each in the bottom.