Digital Circuits This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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Boolean Algebra
George Boole (1815-1864) English mathematician and philosopher.
a • b (AND) a + b (OR) Complement
 Defined on the set B = {0,1} b b
0 1 0 1 a a'
 Binary operators: AND, OR { • , + } a a (a)
 Unary operation: Complement (NOT) {'}
0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Another symbol for the NOT operator: a
1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0
 Axioms (Laws):
Under assumption a , b ∈ B
1. Closure: a+b∈B a•b∈B
2. Commutative: a+b=b+a a•b=b•a
3. Associative: a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c a • (b • c) = (a • b) • c
4. Identity: a+0=a a•1=a
5. Distributive: a + (b • c) = (a + b) • (a + c) a • (b + c) = (a • b) + (a • c)
6. Inverse: a+a=1 a•a=0
 Precedence order of operators from higher to lower precedence:
1. Parenthesis, 2. NOT (Complement) (Negation), 3. AND, 4. OR
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 The Duality principle:

A dual of a logical expression is obtained by replacing, • by +, + by •, 0 by 1, and
1 by 0, without changing the variables.
a + b + 0 ... ⇔ a • b • 1 ...
Example: The dual of the expression a + a⋅b is a⋅(a+b) .
Principle: Duals of all proven theorems (equations) are also valid.
If we know that an equation (theorem) is true, then the dual of this equation
(theorem) is also true.
Note that in the previous slide, axioms were presented with their duals (two
columns).
Example:
Absorption theorem (given in the next slide):
If we can prove the theorem a + a⋅b = a, then its dual a⋅(a+b) = a is also true.
General Duality Principle:
f (X1, X2, ..., Xn, 0, 1, +, •) ⇔ fD(X1, X2 ,..., Xn, 1, 0, •, +)
• It establishes relation between proofs of theorems.
• Duals are not equal.
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 Digital Circuits

Theorems:
These theorems are derived from the operations and axioms of Boolean algebra.
They can be proven using the axioms.

1. Annihilator (or Dominance):

a+1=1 a•0=0
2. Involution: (a')' = a or a = a
3. Idempotency:
a+a+a+….+a = a a•a•a •… •a = a
4. Absorption: (Proof in 2.4)
a + a⋅b = a a⋅(a+b) = a
5. De Morgan's Theorem: Augustus De Morgan, British mathematician and logician (1806 – 1871)

(a + b) = a • b (a • b) = a + b
5. General form of De Morgan's Theorem:
f (X1, X2, ..., Xn, 0 ,1, + , •) = g(X1, X2 ,..., Xn, 1 , 0, •, +)
• It establishes relations between binary operations (AND, OR): • and +
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Proving the theorems:

a) With Axioms

Example:
Theorem: · ·
Proof:
Distributive · · ·
Inverse (Complement) · · 1
Identity · 1 

Example:
Theorem: X+X•Y = X (Absorption)
Proof:
Identity X + X•Y = X•1 + X•Y
Distributive X•1 + X•Y = X • (1 + Y)
Annihilator X • (1 + Y) = X • (1)
Identity X • (1) = X
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 Digital Circuits

Proving the theorems: b) Using truth tables

Note that to denote the negation (NOT), we can also use the notation A.

De Morgan:

X Y X Y (X + Y) X • Y
(X + Y) = X • Y 0 0 1 1 1 1
0 1 1 0 0 0
1 0 0 1 0 0
1 1 0 0 0 0

X Y X Y (X • Y) X + Y
(X • Y) = X + Y 0 0 1 1 1 1
0 1 1 0 1 1
1 0 0 1 1 1
1 1 0 0 0 0

Although truth tables may contain many rows, computer programs can fill in
and compare these tables very quickly.

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Digital Circuits

Minimizing logical expressions using axioms and theorems:

Minimizing a logical expression means;
• finding the shortest expression
• with less operations and variables
• that generates same output values as the original expression.
Example:
Original expression
Z(A,B,C) = A'⋅B⋅C + A⋅B'⋅C + A⋅B⋅C' + A⋅B⋅C
= A' B C + A B' C + A B C' + A B C + A B C
= A' B C + A B C + A B' C + A B C' + A B C
= (A' + A) B C + A B' C + A B C' + A B C
= (1) B C + A B' C + A B C' + A B C
= B C + A B' C + A B C' + A B C + A B C
= B C + A B' C + A B C + A B C' + A B C
= B C + A (B' + B) C + A B C' + A B C
= B C + A (1) C + A B C' + A B C
= B C + A C + A B (C' + C)
= B C + A C + A B (1)
= BC + AC + AB Minimized expression
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Logical (Boolean) Expressions

A logical expression, is a finite combination of variables, constants, and
operators that are well-formed according to the rules.
It is represented as E(X), where X= (x1, x2, .... xn) and each xi ∈ {0,1}.
If E1 and E2 are logical expressions than, , , , · , and all possible
combinations are also logical expressions.
Normal Forms of Logical expressions:
Each logical expression can be written in two special forms.
1. Disjunctive normal form (DNF): ΣΠ
Logical sum of logical products (SOP). OR of ANDs.
Example: ̅
The OR operation is also called logical disjunction.
2. Conjunctive normal form (CNF): ΠΣ
Logical product of logical sums (POS). AND of ORs.
Example: ̅
The AND operation is also called logical conjunction.
Any logical expression can be written in CNF (POS form) and DNF (SOP form).
Any expression in CNF can be converted to DNF and vice versa (ΣΠ ↔ ΠΣ).
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Value of a logical expression:

An expression, E(X), generates for each combination of the input vector

X=(x1, .... xn), a value from the set of B={0,1}.
These values constitute the truth table for the expression.

Example: E(X) = x1x2 + x3

Truth table for the expression

X= x1 x2 x3 E(X)
Combinations for
0 0 0 0 Set of all input
which E(X)
0 0 1 1 combinations
generates ‘1’
0 1 0 0 (X)
(covers)
0 1 1 1
1 0 0 0 000 001
1 0 1 1 010 011
1 1 0 1 100 101
1 1 1 1 111 110

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 Digital Circuits

"Order Relation" between expressions:

To explain some properties of the logical expressions, we can use the following
order relation:
An order relation between elements of set B = {0,1}: 0 < 1
Read as "0 precedes 1" or "0 is smaller than 1".
According to this, an order relation between X vectors can be defined as follows:
If all elements of X1 precede (are smaller than) elements in the same order of
vector X2, then X1 ≤ X2 .

Example:
X1=1001 , X2 = 1101
X1 ≤ X2.

The order relation may not exist between all vectors.

Example: X1=0011 , X2 = 1001
The order relation is not valid between X1 and X2.

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Order relation between expressions:

E1(X) ≤ E2(X) denotes that, values of E1 generated by combinations of input X are always
smaller than (or equal to) all values of E2 generated by the same input combinations.
Example : Combinations for which
Set of all input E2(X) generates ‘1’
x1 x2 x3 E1(X) E2(X) combinations (X) (covers)
0 0 0 0 = 0
0 0 1 1 = 1
Combinations
0 1 0 0 < 1 for which
000 E2
0 1 1 1 = 1 E1(X)
1 0 0 0 = 0 010 generates ‘1’
100 E1
1 0 1 1 = 1 110 001 (covers)
1 1 0 0 < 1 011 101
1 1 1 1 = 1 111

For each input combination where If E1(X) ≤ E2(X)

E1(X) generates "1", E2(X) also
E1(X) implies E2(X), E1(X)E2(X),
generates "1". (This is a special case.)
E2(X) covers E1(X).
If E1(X) ≤ E2(X) then
1. E1(X) + E2(X) = E2(X)
2. E1(X) • E2(X) = E1(X)
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The order relation (≤) may not be valid between all expressions.

IF E and F are two logical expressions, the

following inequalities are always true:
F
E E⋅F ≤ E ≤ E+F
E⋅F ≤ F ≤ E+F

Absorption Properties of expressions:

· dual

Proof: E(E+F) = EE+EF = E+EF = E(1+F) = E

· dual ·
Proof: · 1
These properties are used to minimize (simplify) logical expressions.
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Example:
E(a,b,c,d) = abc′ , F(a,b,c,d) = bd An order relation between E and F does not
E⋅F = abc′d E+F = abc′ + bd exist.

abcd E F E⋅F E+F E⋅F < E and E⋅F < F.

0000 0 0 0 0
Therefore
0001 0 0 0 0
0010 0 0 0 0 E⋅F + E = E
0011 0 0 0 0 abc′d + abc′ = abc′
0100 0 0 0 0 and
0101 0 1 0 1
0110 0 0 0 0 E⋅F + F = F
0111 0 1 0 1 abc′d + bd = bd
1000 0 0 0 0
1001 0 0 0 0 E < E+F and F < E+F.
1010 0 0 0 0
Therefore
1011 0 0 0 0
1100 1 0 0 1 E⋅(E + F) = E
1101 1 1 1 1 abc′ (abc′ + bd) = abc′
1110 0 0 0 0 and
1111 0 1 0 1
F⋅(E + F) = F
bd (abc′ + bd) = bd
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The Consensus Theorem (SOP Form)

Assume that E1 and E2 are two expressions that do not include the literal x1 :
E1(x2, .... xn) and E2(x2, .... xm)
We can create a new expression by multiplying one term by x1 and the other one by
the complement of x1 ( ).

Here, x1 is called a biform variable because it occurs both positively (as itself: )
and negatively (as complement: ) in the expression.

Examples: ,

• Given a pair of product terms that include a biform variable, the consensus term
(SOP) is formed by multiplying (AND) two original terms together, leaving out the
selected variable and its complement.
• E1E2 is the consensus term of with respect to the variable x.
Example: Consensus of (respect to a) is .

Theorem: The consensus term is redundant and can be eliminated.

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Digital Circuits

The Consensus theorem (POS Form)

According to the duality principle, the consensus theorem is also valid for
expressions written in product of sums (POS) form.
Assume that E1 and E2 are two expressions that do not include the literal x1:
E1(x2, .... xn) and E2(x2, .... xm)
We can create a new expression by adding x1 to one term and the complement of x1
to the other one.

Here, x1 is a biform variable.

Examples: ,

• Given a pair of sums that include a biform variable, the consensus term (POS)
is formed by adding (OR) two original terms together, leaving out the selected
variable and its complement.
• E1 + E2 is the consensus term of with respect to the variable x.
Example: Consensus of is: .

Theorem: The consensus term is redundant and can be eliminated.

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 Digital Circuits

Example: Minimization of a logical expression using the consensus theorem

F(A, B, C) = A'B'C + A'BC + AB'C + ABC + ABC'

Consensus (respect to C)
= A'B'C + A'BC + AB'C + ABC + ABC' + AB is added
= A'B'C + A'BC + AB'C + ABC + ABC' + AB Absorption
= A'B'C + A'BC + AB'C + AB
Consensus (respect to B)
= A'B'C + A'BC + A'C + AB'C + AB is added
= A'B'C + A'BC + A'C + AB'C + AB Absorption
= A'C + AB'C + AB
Consensus (B) is added
= A'C + AB'C + AB + AC Absorption
= A'C + AB + AC
Consensus (A) is added
= A'C + AB + AC + C Absorption
= AB + C

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Logical (Boolean) Functions

Logical functions are defined on the input set Bn (vectors with n binary variables).
There are 3 types of logical functions:

1. Simple (basic) functions: Multiple inputs, single output

y = f(X): Bn → B
∀X0∈Bn ; ∃! y0 ∈B ; y=f(X)
"There exists a unique..."

The truth table for y = f(X)

Example: x1 x2 x3 y
y = f(X) x1 000 1
x2 f y 001 1
X∈B3
x3 010 0
y∈B
011 0
100 1
101 0
110 0
111 1
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 Digital Circuits

The number of basic logical functions for n binary variables:

( n)
There are 2 2 possible basic logical functions for n binary variables (inputs).
For example,
there are 16 possible basic logical functions for 2 binary variables (inputs).

x
f z
y

The truth table for 16 possible basic logical functions for 2 binary variables:
Inputs Functions
X Y F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 F13 F14 F15
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1
1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1
1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1
0 1
X Y Y' X'
X XOR Y X=Y X NAND Y
X AND Y
X OR Y X NOR Y
(X AND Y)'
(X OR Y)'
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2. General functions: Multiple inputs, multiple outputs

Y = f(X): Bn → Bm , X=(x1, .... xn), Y=(y1, .... ym),

Example: The truth table for Y = f(X)

x1 x2 x3 y1 y2
Y = f(X) x1 y1
000 1 1
X∈B3 x2
x3
f y2 001 1 0
Y∈B2
010 0 0
011 0 0
100 1 1
101 0 1
110 0 1
111 1 0

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3. Incompletely specified functions:

They have unspecified outputs for some input combinations.
The input combinations of the function that the designer does not care about are
called the don't-care terms (conditions).
A don't-care input combination never occurs as input to the function.
I8 I4 I2 I1 O8 O4 O2 O1
Example: A function that increments 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
BCD numbers (Slide 1.9)
0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1
I1 O1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1
I2 BCD O2
0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
I4 +1 O4 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1
I8 O8 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0
1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1 0 1 0 X X X X
For these input combinations the output values 1 0 1 1 X X X X
of the circuit (function) are not specified. 1 1 0 0 X X X X
They cannot occur. 1 1 0 1 X X X X
An X or Φ represents a don't care. 1 1 1 0 X X X X
1 1 1 1 X X X X

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Representation of Logical (Boolean) Functions

There are different ways of representing (expressing) the same logical function.
When designing logical circuits, we choose the most suitable representation.

Truth Table Representation :

We write the output values for all possible input combinations (variables) in a table.
The input columns are usually constructed in the order of binary counting.
Input variables are encoded as binary numbers.
(See examples in 2.16-2.19)

Numbered (Indexed) Representation:

Input variables are encoded as binary numbers.
We can assign a decimal number for each input combination according to its binary
value.
To represent the function we can list the index (row) number of input combinations
for which the function generates the logical value "1" (or logical "0“ or ”Φ”).

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 Digital Circuits

Example: Indexed representation of a completely specified basic logical function:

Truth Table: Numbered (Indexed) Representation:
Row Input Output y = f(x1,x2) = ∪1(0,2) ∪ denotes "union" or "set of".
Num x1 x2 y
∪1 denotes "set of 1-generating
0 0 0 1
points".
1 0 1 0
2 1 0 1
3 1 1 0 The order of the variables (x1,x2) is important.
It must be the same as in the truth table.
Otherwise the numbers of the combinations will change.
The same function; only
the order of the variables
(x2,x1) is changed.
Row Input Output y = f(x2,x1) = ∪1(0,1)
Num x2 x1 y
0 0 0 1
1 0 1 1
2 1 0 0 We can represent the same function with “0”-genereting
3 1 1 0 combinations. y = f(x ,x ) = ∪ (1,3)
1 2 0

y = f(x1,x2) = ∪1(0,2) = f(x2,x1) = ∪1(0,1) = f(x1,x2) = ∪0(1,3)

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Example: Representation of a completely specified general logical function :

We apply the numbered representation to all outputs.

Truth Table: Numbered (Indexed) Representation:

Num x1 x2 y1 y2
0 0 0 1 1 y1 = f(x1,x2) = ∪1(0,2)
1 0 1 0 1 y2 = f(x1,x2) = ∪1(0,1)
2 1 0 1 0
3 1 1 0 0

Representation of the same function with “0”-genereting combinations:

y1 = f(x1,x2) = ∪0(1,3)
y2 = f(x1,x2) = ∪0(2,3)

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 Digital Circuits

Example: Representation of an incompletely general logical function:

In this case, writing only 1-generating or only 0-generating input combinations

is not sufficient.
We must write at least two of the three different groups (1-generating,
0-generating, don't care).

Truth Table: Numbered (Indexed) Representations:

N x1 x2 y1 y2
y1 = f(x1,x2) = ∪1(0) + ∪0(1,3)
0 0 0 1 1
1 0 1 0 Φ or y1 = f(x1,x2) = ∪1(0) + ∪Φ(2)
2 1 0 Φ 0 or y1 = f(x1,x2) = ∪0(1,3) + ∪Φ(2)
3 1 1 0 Φ
y2 = f(x1,x2) = ∪1(0) + ∪0(2)
or y2 = f(x1,x2) = ∪1(0) + ∪Φ(1,3)
or y2 = f(x1,x2) = ∪0(2) + ∪Φ(1,3)

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Graphical Representation
The input variables (combinations) of a logical function are elements (vectors) of
the set Bn. Example: B3={000, 001, …, 111}
We can represent these variables as vertices of an n-dimensional hypercube.
Vertices that correspond to 1-generating combinations are colored (marked).
The number of inputs of the function determines how many dimensions the
hypercube has.
n-bit input → n-dimensional cube
01 11
Boolean Cubes:
0 1 2- dimensional
Y
1-dimensional f(X,Y)
f(X) X 10
00
X
1111
111 0111

3- dimensional 4- dimensional
f(X,Y,Z) Y Z Y f(W,X,Y,Z)
101 Z
W
000 1000
X 0000 X
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Example: A B F
01 11
F(A,B) 0 0 1
B
0 1 0
1 0 1 00 10
A
1 1 0
Example: A B C F
F(A,B,C) 0 0 0 0 011 111
0 0 1 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 1 110
1 0 0 0 B C 101
1 0 1 1
1 1 0 1 000 A
1 1 1 1
As the number of variables (inputs) increases, drawing a Boolean cube becomes
more difficult.
Therefore, Boolean cubes are not practical for representing Boolean functions
with many inputs.
However, they make it easier to visualize some properties (especially, adjacent
combinations) of the functions and to explain further topics.
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Karnaugh Maps
(Maurice Karnaugh (1924-), American physicist and mathematician)

The Karnaugh map is a tool for representing and simplifying Boolean functions.
The Boolean variables and related output values are transferred (generally from a
truth table) into a table that is in a matrix form.

Example: F(A,B)

Truth table: Boolean Cube: Karnaugh maps:

Row
Num. A B F F F
11 B A
01 A 0 1 B 0 1
0 0 0 1
B 0 1 0 0 1 1
1 0 1 0 0 1 or 0 2
2 1 0 1 00 10 1 1 0 1 0 0
A 2 3 1 3
3 1 1 0
A: row, B: column A: column, B: row

We can place different

variables to columns or rows.

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 Digital Circuits

Karnaugh map (cont'd)

The rows and columns are labeled according to the Gray code property, so that
variables in adjacent squares (horizontal and vertical) of the map differ in only
one variable.
Format of the Karnaugh map for a function with 3 inputs: F(A,B,C)
For example, we write here the output value
Gray Code generated for the input combination ABC=010.
F BC F BC
A 00 01 11 10 A
Inputs

0 000 001 011 010

0 1 3 2 Row Adjacent squares.
1 Numbers Hamming distance is 1.
100 101 111 110
4 5 7 6

Example: Num A B C F
0 0 0 0 0
1 0 0 1 0 F BC
2 0 1 0 0 A 00 01 11 10
3 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
0 1 3 2
4 1 0 0 0
5 1 0 1 1 1
40 51 7 1 6 1
6 1 1 0 1
7 1 1 1 1
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Digital Circuits

Format of the Karnaugh map of a function with 4 inputs: F(A,B,C,D)

F CD C D

AB 00 01 11 10 Gray Code
00
0 1 3 2
01
Gray Code 4 5 7 6
11
12 13 15 14
10
8 9 11 10

F CD
AB 00 01 11 10
Example: 00 1 0 0 1
Draw the Karnaugh map for the following
function. 01 0 1 0 0
F(A,B,C,D) = ∪1 (0,2,5,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15)
11 1 1 1 1

10 1 1 1 1

We will use Karnaugh maps to simplify Boolean functions in the coming lectures.
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 Digital Circuits

Algebraic Representation (Expressions) and Canonical Forms

The word description of a real-world logic design problem can be translated into a
truth table.
Example: Assume that input variable A represents the phrase ‘’the car door is
open’’, B represents ‘’the key is inserted’’,
then the truth table can specify the action Z to be taken, where Z=1 means that
the alarm sounds.
Num. A B Z
Truth tables of real-world digital problems are more
0 0 0 0 complicated.
1 0 1 0 To handle a logic design problem and implement the solution
2 1 0 0 using logic gates, we need to obtain an algebraic expression
3 1 1 1 for the output function. Z = f (A,B)
Logical expressions of the Boolean functions can be obtained in canonical forms
from their truth tables.
There are two types of canonical forms:
• 1st canonical form: SOP (ΣΠ) form. Example: abc + ab'c
Sum of products, each of which corresponds to a "1"-generating combination.
• 2nd canonical form: POS (ΠΣ) form. Example: (a+b+c') (a+b'+c')
Product of sums, each of which corresponds to a "0"-generating combination.
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Digital Circuits

1st Canonical Form: Sum of Products

• The 1st canonical form is the sum of special products called minterm.
• In the 1st canonical form, each product in the sum corresponds to a row in the
truth table with the output "1".
• Minterm: For a Boolean function of n variables, a product of n literals in which
each variable appears exactly once (in either true or complemented form, but
not both) is called a minterm.
For example, a function with 3 variables (a, b, c) has 8 minterms:
a'b'c', a'b'c, a'bc', a'bc, ab'c', ab'c, abc', abc
• Each minterm that appears in the 1st canonical form covers only one row of
the truth table with the output "1".
For example; the minterm a'b'c' can generate "1" only for the input value
abc=000.
For all other input combinations the minterm a'b'c' generates "0".
• The 1st canonical form of a function is the sum of minterms.

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Finding minterms:
Truth Table → Expression in SOP form
• To find minterms, we locate all rows in the truth table where the output is "1".
• To obtain the individual minterms, we substitute variables (for example, A, B,
or C) for ones (of the inputs) and complements of variables (A', B', or C') for
zeros in the truth table.

Example:

"True" (1) combinations: 001 011 101 110 111

Sum of Minterms: F(A,B,C) = A'B'C + A'BC + AB'C + ABC' + ABC

A B C F
0 0 0 0
0 0 1 1
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 1
1 0 0 0
1 0 1 1
1 1 0 1
1 1 1 1

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Digital Circuits

The 1st canonical form of the complement of a function:

We can similarly obtain the 1st canonical form of the complement of a function
by considering the "false" (0) rows.

Example:
Obtain the 1st canonical form of the complement of a function F from the
previous example.
1st canonical form of !:
! ", $, % "$% "$% "$%
A B C F F'
0 0 0 0 1
0 0 1 1 0
0 1 0 0 1
0 1 1 1 0
1 0 0 0 1
1 0 1 1 0
1 1 0 1 0
1 1 1 1 0

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 Digital Circuits

Simplification of the expressions in the 1st canonical form:

Canonical forms are usually not the simplest (optimal) algebraic expression of the
function.
They can usually be simplified.

Minimization:
F(A, B, C) = A'B'C + A'BC + AB'C + ABC + ABC'
= (A'B' + A'B + AB' + AB)C + ABC'
= ((A' + A)(B' + B))C + ABC'
= C + ABC'
= ABC' + C
= AB + C
• A Boolean function may have many possible logical expressions. They produce
the same result given the same inputs.
• Since the minterms present in the 1st canonical form are in one-to-one
correspondence with the 1’s of the truth table, the 1st canonical (standard)
form expression for a function is unique.
• A function can have only one expression in the 1st canonical form.

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Digital Circuits

Indexing minterms:
We assign each minterm an index (number) based on the binary encoding of the
variables.
This is a decimal number that represents the row number (Row numbers start at 0).
For example, we assign the index 5 to the minterm ab'c (101) and designate it m5.

Inputs:
A B C Minterms
0 0 0 A'B'C' = m0
0 0 1 A'B'C = m1
0 1 0 A'BC' = m2
0 1 1 A'BC = m3
1 0 0 AB'C' = m4
1 0 1 AB'C = m5 Example:
1 1 0 ABC' = m6
Expression of function F in (2.31) in 1st canonical form:
1 1 1 ABC = m7
F(A, B, C) = Σm(1,3,5,6,7)
Minterms for three variables = m1 + m3 + m5 + m6 + m7
= A'B'C + A'BC + AB'C + ABC' + ABC
F= ΣA, B, C (1,3,5,6,7) (Sum of minterms)

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 Digital Circuits

2nd Canonical Form: Product of Sums

• The 2nd canonical form is the product of special sum terms called maxterm.
• In the 2nd canonical form, each of the sum terms (or factors) in the product
corresponds to a row in the truth table with the output "0".
• Maxterm: For a Boolean function of n variables, a sum of n literals in which
each variable appears exactly once (in either true or complemented form,
but not both) is called a maxterm.
• For example, a function with 3 variables (a, b, c) has 8 maxterms:
a+b+c, a+b+c', a+b'+c, a+b'+c', a'+b+c, a'+b+c', a'+b'+c, a'+b'+c'
• Each maxterm has a value of "0" for exactly one combination of values for
the input variables.
For example; the maxterm a+b+c can generate "0" only for the input value
abc=000.
For all other input combinations the maxterm a+b+c generates "1".
• The 2nd canonical form of a function is the product of maxterms.

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Digital Circuits

Finding maxterms:
Truth Table → Expression in POS form
• To find the maxterms, we locate all rows in the truth table where the output is
"0".
• To obtain the individual maxterms, we substitute variables (for example, A, B,
or C) for zeros (of the inputs) and complements of variables (A', B', or C') for
ones in the truth table.
Example:
"False" (0) generating combinations: 000 010 100
Product of maxterms: F(A,B,C) = (A + B + C) (A + B' + C) (A' + B + C)

A B C F
0 0 0 0
0 0 1 1
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 1
1 0 0 0
1 0 1 1
1 1 0 1
1 1 1 1
Note that this function F is the same as the function in slide 2.31.
Both expressions in 1st and 2nd canonical forms correspond to the same truth
table.
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The 2nd canonical form of the complement of a function:

We can similarly obtain the 2nd canonical form of the complement of a function
by considering the "true" (1) rows:

Example:
Obtain the 2nd canonical form of the complement of a function F from the
previous example.
2nd canonical form of F:

F'(A,B,C) = (A + B + C') (A + B' + C') (A' + B + C') (A' + B' + C) (A' + B' + C')
A B C F
0 0 0 0
0 0 1 1
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 1
1 0 0 0
1 0 1 1
1 1 0 1
1 1 1 1

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Digital Circuits

Simplification of the expressions in the 2nd canonical form:

Canonical forms are usually not the simplest (optimal) algebraic expression of the
function.
They can usually be simplified.

Minimization:
F(A, B, C) = (A+B+C) (A+B’+C) (A’+B+C)
= ((A+C)+(B⋅B')) (A'+B+C)
= (A+C) (A'+B+C)
= (A+C) (A'+B+C) (B+C) (consensus)
= (A + C) (B + C)

• A Boolean function may have many possible logical expressions. They produce
the same result given the same inputs.
• Since the maxterms present in the 2nd canonical form are in one-to-one
correspondence with the 0’s of the truth table, the 2nd canonical (standard)
form expression for a function is unique.
• A function can have only one expression in the 2nd canonical form.

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 Digital Circuits

Indexing maxterms:
We assign each maxterm an index (number) based on the binary encoding of the
variables. This is a decimal number that represents the row number (Row numbers
start at 0).
For example, we assign the index 5 to the maxterm a'+b+c' (101) and designate it M5.
Inputs:
A B C Maxterms
0 0 0 A+B+C M0
0 0 1 A+B+C' M1
0 1 0 A+B'+C M2
0 1 1 A+B'+C' M3
1 0 0 A'+B+C M4
1 0 1 A'+B+C' M5
1 1 0 A'+B'+C M6 Example:
1 1 1 A'+B'+C' M7 2nd canonical form of F:
F(A, B, C) = ΠM(0,2,4)
= M0 • M2 • M4
Maxterms for 3 variables = (A + B + C) (A + B' + C) (A' + B + C)

F = ΠA,B,C(0,2,4) product of maxterms.

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Digital Circuits

Conversions Between Canonical Forms

 From 1st (sum of minterms) form to 2nd (product to maxterms) form:
Replace the minterms with maxterms, and assign them numbers of minterms
that don’t appear in the 1st canonical form.
Example: F(A,B,C) = Σm(1,3,5,6,7) = ΠM(0,2,4)
F(A,B,C) = m1 + m3 + m5 + m6 + m7 = M0 ⋅ M2 ⋅ M4
&, ', ( &̅'( &̅'( &'( &'(̅ &'( & ' ( & ' ( &̅ ' (
 From 2nd (product to maxterms) form to 1st (sum of minterms) form:
Replace the maxterms with minterms, and assign them numbers of maxterms
that don’t appear in the 2nd canonical form.
Example: F(A,B,C) = ΠM(0,2,4) = Σm(1,3,5,6,7)
 Finding the complement of the function in sum of minterms form:
Select the minterms that don’t appear in the 1st canonical form.
Example: F(A,B,C) = Σm(1,3,5,6,7) F'(A,B,C) = Σm(0,2,4)
 Finding the complement of the function in product of maxterms form:
Select the maxterms that do not appear in the 2nd canonical form.
Example: F(A,B,C) = ΠM(0,2,4) F'(A,B,C) = ΠM(1,3,5,6,7)
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 Digital Circuits

Canonical Forms and the De Morgan's Theorem

• Applying the De Morgan's theorem to the complement of the function in the
1st canonical form generates the expression in the 2nd canonical form.
Example:
Complement of the function in SOP form (Slide 2.32):
&̅'(̅ &̅'(̅ &' (̅
De Morgan
&̅'(̅ &̅'(̅ &' (̅
& ' ( & ' ( &̅ ' ( 2nd canonical form is obtained (2.36).

• Applying the De Morgan's theorem to the complement of the function in the

2nd canonical form generates the expression in the 1st canonical form.
Example:
Complement of the function in POS form (2.37):
& ' (̅ & ' (̅ &̅ ' (̅ &̅ ' ( &̅ ' (̅
De Morgan
& ' (̅ & ' (̅ &̅ ' (̅ &̅ ' ( &̅ ' (̅
&̅' ( &̅'( &'( &'(̅ &'( 1st canonical form is obtained (2.31).
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