Overcomers tutorials
Cell: 060 690 8841
Email: accatutor91@gmail.com
Fundamentals of Computer
Systems
COS1521
Disclaimer
The information contained in this document is confidential, privileged and only for the
information of the intended recipient and may not be used, published or redistributed
without the prior written consent of Overcomers Tutorials (Pty) Ltd.
The opinions expressed are in good faith and while every care has been taken in preparing
this document, Overcomers makes no representations and gives no warranties of whatever
nature in respect of this document, including but not limited to the accuracy or
completeness of any information, facts and/or opinions contained therein.
Overcomers Tutorials (Pty) Ltd, its subsidiaries, the directors, employees and agents
cannot be held liable for the use of and reliance of the opinions, estimates, forecasts and
findings in this document.
accatutor91@gmail.com
,Boolean Expression Simplification
Here are some examples of Boolean algebra simplifications. Each line gives a form of the expression, and the rule
or rules used to derive it from the previous one. Generally, there are several ways to reach the result. Here is the
list of simplification rules.
Simplify: C + BC:
Expression Rule(s) Used
C + BC Original Expression
C + (B + C) DeMorgan's Law.
(C + C) + B Commutative, Associative Laws.
T+B Complement Law.
T Identity Law.
Simplify: AB(A + B)(B + B):
Expression Rule(s) Used
AB(A + B)(B + B) Original Expression
AB(A + B) Complement law, Identity law.
(A + B)(A + B) DeMorgan's Law
Distributive law. This step uses the fact that or distributes over and. It can look a
A + BB bit strange since addition does not distribute over multiplication.
A Complement, Identity.
Simplify: (A + C)(AD + AD) + AC + C:
Expression Rule(s) Used
(A + C)(AD + AD) + AC + C Original Expression
, (A + C)A(D + D) + AC + C Distributive.
(A + C)A + AC + C Complement, Identity.
A((A + C) + C) + C Commutative, Distributive.
A(A + C) + C Associative, Idempotent.
AA + AC + C Distributive.
A + (A + T)C Idempotent, Identity, Distributive.
A+C Identity, twice.
You can also use distribution of or over and starting from A(A+C)+C to reach the same result by another
route.
Simplify: A(A + B) + (B + AA)(A + B):
Expression Rule(s) Used
A(A + B) + (B + AA)(A + B) Original Expression
AA + AB + (B + A)A + (B + A)B Idempotent (AA to A), then Distributive, used twice.
Complement, then Identity. (Strictly speaking, we also used the
AB + (B + A)A + (B + A)B Commutative Law for each of these applications.)
AB + BA + AA + BB + AB Distributive, two places.
Idempotent (for the A's), then Complement and Identity to remove
AB + BA + A + AB BB.
AB + AB + AT + AB Commutative, Identity; setting up for the next step.
AB + A(B + T + B) Distributive.
AB + A Identity, twice (depending how you count it).
, A + AB Commutative.
(A + A)(A + B) Distributive.
A+B Complement, Identity.