This lab will help the student learn to work with Boolean operations. Computers use Boolean operations to make calculations based on inputs of 0 (OFF) and 1 (ON). 0s and 1s are represented in computer microchips and the bus on the motherboard by the presence or absence of voltage. The student will perform some basic calculations using the AND, OR, NOR, and NOT Boolean operations to get a better idea of how computers work internally. Complex combinations of these operations take place constantly in computers within millionths of a second | Lab Boolean Operations Estimated Time 25 Minutes Objective Upon completion of this lab the student will have been introduced to the AND OR NOR and NOT Boolean operations. The student will also be able to calculate the output of different combinations of Boolean operations based on input. Equipment This is a written exercise. No equipment is necessary. Scenario The student is given a circuit board diagram. In order to figure out what each logic gate does the student must understand how Boolean operations function. Procedures This lab will help the student learn to work with Boolean operations. Computers use Boolean operations to make calculations based on inputs of 0 OFF and 1 ON . 0s and 1s are represented in computer microchips and the bus on the motherboard by the presence or absence of voltage. The student will perform some basic calculations using the AND OR NOR and NOT Boolean operations to get a better idea of how computers work internally. Complex combinations of these operations take place constantly in computers within millionths of a second. Step 1 The Boolean operations of AND OR NOR and NOT work as follows 0 OR 0 is 0 0 AND 0 is 0 0 NOR 0 is 1 NOT 0 is 1 0 OR 1 is 1 0 AND 1 is 0 0 NOR 1 is 0 NOT 1 is 0 1 OR 0 is 1 1 AND 0 is 0 1 NOR 0 is 0 1 OR 1 is 1 1 AND 1 is 1 1 NOR 1 is 0 The corresponding truth tables allow a compact way to represent these operations OR 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 NOR 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 Note AND OR and NOR are called binary operations not to be confused with binary numbers because the operations require two inputs. NOT is called a unary operation because it has only one input. 1 - 2 IT Essentials I - Lab Copyright 2002 Cisco Systems Inc. Look at the following combination of Boolean operations and determine the output. 1 AND 0 OR 0 AND 1 Compute the operations in parentheses first. 1 AND 0 is 0. 0 AND 1 is 0. So the solutions is 0 OR 0 which is 0. As a second example try to compute the following Boolean operations. NOT 1 AND 0 .
