Logicgates, Boolean Functions&Truth Tables
Logicgates, Boolean Functions&Truth Tables
Logicgates, Boolean Functions&Truth Tables
TRUTH TABLES
. Logic gate, Boolean function and truth table are related into one another. Having
one of these in hand, you are able to obtain the other two. In this part of module, we will
learn how to create truth tables, obtain Boolean functions and draw logic circuits. Letters
such as W, X, Y and Z or A, B, C and D will be used for the inputs and Q or F for the output.
Other letters can, of course, also be used.
LOGIC STATE
There are several ways of expressing the logic state of inputs and output of a logic
circuit. See the table below for common terms used. Whatever of these terms is used, for
example TRUE instead of 1, or Low instead of False, the meaning is still the same.
Logic states
True False
1 0
High Low
+Vs 0V
On Off
POSITIVE LOGIC
0 → 0 volt OR 0 → -5 volts
1 → 5 volts 1 → 0 volt
“1” level value of the variable is greater than “0” level value
NEGATIVE LOGIC
0 → 5 volts OR 0 → 0 volt
1 → 0 volt 1 → -5 volts
“1” level value of the variable is less than “0” level value
LOGIC GATE
A logic gate is an electronic circuit which performs logical operation on one or more
inputs and produces one output. It is the elementary building block of a digital circuit.
AND gate
AND gate is a logic circuit which will give a 1 output if all the inputs are 1s. The output
of a two input AND gate can be compared to a lamp controlled by two switches connected
in series. The lamp will glow only if two switches are switched ON at the same time. The
logic symbol of an AND gate with inputs X and Y is shown below. Its corresponding Boolean
function is Q = X • Y or simply Q = XY. We use the symbol dot(•) for AND gate. The truth
table is also shown below.
OR gate
OR gate is a logic circuit which will give a 1 output once there is/are 1 input/s. The
output of a two input OR gate can be compared to a lamp controlled by two switches
connected in parallel. The lamp will glow if any or both of the two switches are switched ON.
The logic symbol of an OR gate with inputs X and Y is shown below. Its corresponding
Boolean function is Q = X + Y. We use the symbol plus(+) for OR gate. The truth table is
also shown below.
X Q
0 1
1 0
BUFFER gate
A BUFFER gate is the same as two inverters connected in series so that the output
of the first one will be the input of the other. The logic state of the output of this gate is the
same as the input because of its double inversion. While this may seem like a pointless
thing to do, it does have practical application. A weak signal source may be boosted by
means of two inverters. The logic level is unchanged, but the full capabilities are available to
drive a load resistance if needed. The logic symbol and truth table are shown below.
X Q
0 0
1 1
NAND gate
NAND gate is a logic circuit which will give a 0 output when all the inputs are 1’s. It is
the same as an AND gate followed by a NOT gate. The logic symbol of a NAND gate with
inputs X and Y is like an AND gate with a bubble as shown below. Its corresponding
Boolean function is Q = X •Y or Q = XY .
SUM OF PRODUCTS
The sum of products form(also called sum of minterms) of expression is a series of
product(AND) terms connected by addition(OR). This form of Boolean function can be easily
obtained from the truth table. For example in the given truth table below, the outputs are 1 in
four cases:
A B C F (output) MINTERMS
0 0 0 0 A BC → m0
0 0 1 1 A BC → m1
0 1 0 1 A BC → m2
0 1 1 1
1 0 0 1
1 0 1 0
1 1 0 0
1 1 1 0
A BC → m3
A BC → m4
A BC → m5
ABC → m6
ABC → m7
From the truth table above, the Boolean expression can be obtained by adding
minterms(product terms from input combination) with outputs equivalent to 1, that is,
F= A B C + A B C + A BC + A B C or F=m1+ m2+m3+ m 4. Its corresponding two-level circuit is
shown below.
PRODUCT OF SUMS
A B C F (output) MAXTERMS
0 0 0 0 A+ B+C
0 0 1 1 A+ B+C
A+C +C
0 1 0 1
A+ B+C
0 1 1 1
A+ B+C
1 0 0 1
1 0 1 0
1 1 0 0
1 1 1 0
A+ B+C
A+ B+C
A+ B+C