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Simplifying boolean algebra expression that contains XOR

Writer Emily Wong
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How can I simplify followed boolean algebra expression; Normally I express as simplify without XOR also this expression contains both XOR and multiple variables.

(((A + B)' * C') xor ((A' + B') * C')' ) * A

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2 Answers

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Lets say X = (A + B)' * C') and Y = ((A' + B') * C')'

We know that XOR can be represented as

$X ⊕ Y = X\overline Y + \overline X Y$

So, first simplify the inners and once you have the simplified version, you can deal with the outer A.

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I've never been a fan of the boolean algebra notation, so this is not a direct answer to your question, but more how I would do this simplification using propositional logic notation.$ \newcommand{\calc}{\begin{align} \quad &} \newcommand{\op}[1]{\\ #1 \quad & \quad \unicode{x201c}} \newcommand{\hints}[1]{\mbox{#1} \\ \quad & \quad \phantom{\unicode{x201c}} } \newcommand{\hint}[1]{\mbox{#1} \unicode{x201d} \\ \quad & } \newcommand{\endcalc}{\end{align}} \newcommand{\ref}[1]{\text{(#1)}} \newcommand{\then}{\Rightarrow} \newcommand{\followsfrom}{\Leftarrow} \newcommand{\true}{\text{true}} \newcommand{\false}{\text{false}} $

Translated into that notation, you're asked to simplify $$ \big(\lnot (A \lor B) \land \lnot C \;\not\equiv\; \lnot ((\lnot A \lor \lnot B) \land C)\big) \;\land\; A $$

We can do that as in the following calculation: $$\calc \big(\lnot (A \lor B) \land \lnot C \;\not\equiv\; \lnot ((\lnot A \lor \lnot B) \land C)\big) \;\land\; A \op=\hint{use $\;A\;$ on other side of the rightmost $\;\land\;$} \big(\lnot (\true \lor B) \land \lnot C \;\not\equiv\; \lnot ((\false \lor \lnot B) \land C)\big) \;\land\; A \op=\hint{simplify} \big(\false \;\not\equiv\; \lnot (\lnot B \land C)\big) \;\land\; A \op=\hint{simplify $\;\false \not\equiv P\;$ to $\;P\;$; DeMorgan} (B \lor \lnot C) \;\land\; A \endcalc$$ And now it is trivial to translate that back to boolean algebra notation...

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