Boolean Algebra

Cheat Sheet

Name Reads as Logic Gate OCR Alternative Notation Examples Truth table Notes
Notation
Conjunction AND Both operators in a Adding a circle to the end
AND submarine need to turn A B Output of an AND gate turns it into
their launch keys at the 0 0 0 a NAND gate (Not AND). It
e.g. A AND B same time for a missile to 0 1 0 simply reverses the output from the gate.
fire. 1 0 0
1 1 1
Disjunction OR The fire alarm will go off if Adding a circle to the end
OR e.g A OR B the smoke detector senses A B Output of an OR gate turns it into a
the temperature rises to 0 0 0 NOR gate (Not OR). It
+ e.g A+B high or if it senses smoke or 0 1 1 simply reverses the output from the gate.
both. 1 0 1
1 1 1
Exclusive XOR Opposing football teams Adding a circle to the end
Disjunction XOR e.g A XOR B will get 3 points for a win if A B Output of an XOR gate turns it into
one side scores more, but 0 0 0 a XNOR gate (Not XOR). It
e.g A B not if they draw. 0 1 1 simply reverses the output from the gate.
1 0 1
1 1 0
Negation NOT A microwave will stop if the
bar e.g A door is not closed. A Output
¬ ~ e.g ~A A house alarm will go off if 1 0
NOT e.g NOT A the door is not closed. 0 1
Equivalence If and only The decimal 0.25 is the
if. same as the fraction ¼.
Means the The temperature 25 Celsius
same as is the same as 77
Fahrenheit.
Boolean Algebra
Cheat Sheet

Rule What does it mean? In Boolean Algebra in the OCR exam Examples in English Notes
De Morgan’s Law Either logical function AND or OR ¬ (A B) (¬ A) (¬ B) It cannot be both winter AND summer (at any point in time)
may be replaced by the other, NOT (A OR B) is the same as (NOT A) AND (NOT B)
given certain changes to the Is the same as…
equation. This is the same as:
(At any point in time) It is NOT winter OR it is NOT summer
¬ (A B) (¬ A) (¬ B)
NOT (A AND B) is the same as (NOT A) OR (NOT B)
Distribution This law allows for the multiplying This is the OR Distributive law: You can choose 1 main course and either a start or a desert.
or factoring out of an expression. A (B C) (A B) (A C)
A AND (B OR C) is the same as (A AND B) OR (A AND C) Is the same as…

This is the AND Distributive law: You can choose 1 main and 1 starter or you can choose 1 main and 1 desert
A (B C) (A B) (A C)
A OR (B AND C) is the same as (A OR B) AND (A OR C)
Association This law allows for the removal of This is the OR Association Law: “Craig and his friends James & Tom are coming to the party”
brackets from an expression and A (B C) (A B) C A B C
the regrouping of the variables. A OR (B OR C) is the same as (A OR B) OR C is the same as A OR B OR C Is the same as..

“James & Tom and their friend Craig are coming to the party”
This is the AND Association Law:
A (B C) (A B) C A B C Is the same as…
A AND (B AND C) is the same as (A AND B) AND C is the same as A AND B AND C
“Craig, James and Tom are coming to the party”
Commutation The order of application of two A B B A Tom and Jane are going shopping.
separate terms is not important. The order in which two variables are AND’ed makes no difference
Is the same as…
A B B A
The order in which two variables are OR’ed makes no difference Jane and Tom are going shopping
Double negation NOT NOT A ¬(¬ A) = A “It’s not as if I don’t like you” clearly means “I do like you”!
(double negative) = "A"
Absorption Where the rule applies the X (X Y) X If it will rain, then I will wear my coat. To be able to apply the Absorption rule:
second term inside the bracket X OR (X AND Y) is the same as X 1. The operators inside and outside the
can always be eliminated and Therefore, if it will rain then it will rain and I will wear my coat. brackets must be different
“absorbed” by the term outside X (X Y) X 2. The term outside the brackets must
the bracket. X AND (X OR Y) is the same as X also be inside the brackets

In addition to the 5 laws / rules above which are listed in the OCR specification and the Absorption rule there are also 8 general identities or “rules” which you really should know which will help you gratefully when it comes to
simplifying Boolean Expressions.

Rule Explanation Rule Explanation

AND rules Remember that with AND both terms have to be 1 or TRUE for the result to be TRUE OR rules Remember that with OR only 1 term has to be 1 or TRUE for the result to be TRUE
X 0=0 X AND 0 is the same as 0 X 0=X X OR 0 is the same as X
1 5
Or to put it another way… X AND FALSE has to equal FALSE (See truth table on reverse side for proof) Or to put it another way… X OR FALSE has to equal TRUE (See truth table on reverse side for proof)
X AND 1 is the same as X X 1=X X OR 1 is the same as X
2 X 1=X 6
Or to put it another way… X AND TRUE has to equal TRUE (See truth table on reverse side for proof) Or to put it another way… X OR TRUE has to equal TRUE (See truth table on reverse side for proof)
X X=X X AND X is the same as X X X=X X OR X is the same as X
3 7
Or to put it another way… X AND X has to equal X (See truth table on reverse side for proof) Or to put it another way… X OR X has to equal X (See truth table on reverse side for proof)
X ¬X = 0 X AND not X is the same as 0 X ¬X = 1 X OR not X is the same as 1
4 8
Or to put it another way… X AND NOT(X) has to equal FALSE (See truth table on reverse side for proof) Or to put it another way… X OR NOT(X) has to equal TRUE (See truth table on reverse side for proof)