Boolean Algebra Laws and Theorems
Boolean Algebra is a form of mathematical algebra that is used in digital logic in
digital electronics.
The main aim of any logic design is to simplify the logic as much as possible so
that the final implementation will become easy. In order to simplify the logic, the
Boolean equations and expressions representing that logic must be simplified.
So, to simplify the Boolean equations and expression, there are some laws and
theorems proposed. Using these laws and theorems, it becomes very easy to
simplify or reduce the logical complexities of any Boolean expression or function.
The most commonly used laws and theorem is Boolean algebra.
Basic Laws and Proofs
The basic rules and laws of Boolean algebraic system are known as “Laws of
Boolean algebra”. Some of the basic laws (rules) of the Boolean algebra are
i. Associative law
ii. Distributive law
iii. Commutative law
iv. Absorption law
v. Consensus law
Associative Law
Associate Law of Addition
Statement:
Associative law of addition states that OR ing more than two variables i.e.
mathematical addition operation performed on variables will return the same
value irrespective of the grouping of variables in an equation.
It involves in swapping of variables in groups.
The Associative law using OR operator can be written as
A+(B+C) = (A+B)+C
Proof:
If A, B and C are three variables, then the grouping of 3 variables with 2 variables
in each set will be of 3 types, such as (A + B), (B + C) and(C + A).
According to associative law
(A + B + C) = (A + B) +C = A + (B + C) = B + (C + A)
We know that, A + AB = A (according to Absorption law)
Now let’s assume that, x = A + (B + C) and y = (A + B) + C
According to associative law, we need to prove that x = y.
Now, find Ax = A [ A + (B + C) ]
= AA +A (B + C)
= A + AB + AC → since AA = A
= (A+ AB) + AC
= A + AC → since A + AB = A
= A → since A + AC = A
Therefore Ax = A
Similarly, for Bx = B [ A + (B + C) ]
= AB +B (B + C)
= AB + BB + BC
= AB + B + BC → since BB = B
= (B+ BC) + AB
= B + AB → since B + BC = B
= B → since B + AB = B
Using these above equations, we can say that the relation between A, B, C and +
operator doesn’t change when multiplied by other variable like x, such as xy = yx
= x = y.
yx = ((A + B) + C) x
= (A + B) x + Cx
= (Ax + Bx) + Cx
= (A + B) + C
= y xy = (A + (B + C)) y
= Ay + (B + C) y
= Ay + (By + Cy)
= A + (B + C)
=x
So x = y, which means A + (B + C) = (A + B) + C = B + (A +C)
Example
Take three variables 0, 1 and 0, then
According to associative law,
(0 + 1) + 0 = 0 + (1 + 0)
1+0=0+1
1=1
Hence associative law is verified.
Hence the Associative law is proved, (A + B + C) = (A + B) +C = A + (B + C) = B
+ (C + A)
Associate Law of Multiplication
Statement:
Associative law of multiplication states that ANDing more than two variables i.e.
mathematical multiplication operation performed on variables will return the same
value irrespective of the grouping of variables in an equation.
The Associative law using AND operator can be written as
A * (B * C) = (A * B) * C
Distributive law
This is the most used and most important law in Boolean algebra, which involves
in 2 operators: AND, OR.
Statement1:
The multiplication of two variables and adding the result with a variable will result
in same value as multiplication of addition of the variable with individual
variables.
In other words, ANDing two variables and ORing the result with another variable
is equal to AND of ORing of the variable with the two individual variables.
Distributive law can be written as
A + BC = (A + B)(A + C)
This is called OR distributes over AND.
Proof:
If A, B and C are three variables then
A + BC = A * 1 + BC → since A*1 = A
= A (1 + B)+ BC → since 1 + B = 1
= A * 1 + AB + BC
= A *(1 + C) + AB + BC → since A*A = A*1 = A
= A *(A + C) + B (A + C)
= (A + C) (A + B)
A + BC = (A + B) (A + C)
Hence, distributive law is proved.
Statement 2:
The addition of two variables and multiplying the result with a variable will result
in same value as addition of multiplication of the variable with individual
variables.
In other words, ORing two variables and ANDing the result with another variable
is equal to OR of ANDing of the variable with the two individual variables.
Distributive law can be written as
A (B+C) = (A B) + (A C)
This is called AND distributes over OR.
Proof:
A (B + C) = A (B*1) + A (C*1) → since 1 * B = B, 1 * C = C
= [(AB)*(A*1)] + [(AC) *(A*1)]
=[(AB) * A] + [(AC) *A]
= (A +1) (AB + AC)
= (AB +AC) → since 1 + A = 1
Hence, distributive law is proved.
Example:
Take three variables 0, 1 and 0, then
According to distributive law,
0 (1 + 0) = (0*1) + (0*0)
0 (1) = (0) + (0)
0=0
Hence,distributive law is verified.
Commutative law
Statement:
Commutative law states that the inter-changing of the order of operands in a
Boolean equation does not change its result.

Using OR operator → A + B = B + A

Using AND operator → A * B = B * A
This law is also has more priority in Boolean algebra.
Example:
Take 2 variables 1 and 0, then
1+0=0+1
1=1
Similarly,
1*0=0*1
0=0
Absorption Law
Absorption law involves in linking of a pair of binary operations.
i. A+AB = A
ii. A(A+B) = A
iii. A+ĀB = A+B
iv. A.(Ā+B) = AB
3rd and 4th laws are also called as Redundancy laws.
Statement 1: A + AB = A
Proof:
A + AB = A.1 + AB → since A.1 = A
=A(1+B) → since 1 + B = 1
= A.1
=A
Statement 2:A (A + B) = A
Proof:
A (A + B) = A.A + A.B
= A+AB → since A . A = A
= A (1 + B)
= A.1
=A
Statement 3:A + ĀB = A + B
Proof:
A + ĀB = (A + Ā) (A + B) → since A+BC = (A+B)(A+C) using distributive law
= 1 * (A + B) → since A + Ā = 1
=A + B
Statement 4: A * (Ā+B) = AB
Proof: A * (Ā + B) = A. Ā + AB
= AB → since A Ā = 0
Duality Principle in Boolean algebra
Statement:
Duality principle states that “The Dual of the expression can be achieved by
replacing the AND operator with ORoperator, along with replacing the binary
variables, such as replacing 1 with 0 and replacing 0 with 1”.
This law explains that, replacing the variables doesn’t change the value of the
Boolean function.
But while interchanging the names of the variables, we must change the binary
operators also. “If the operators and variables of an equation or function that
produce no change in the output of the equation, though they are interchanged is
called “Duals”.
The Duality principle is also known as “De Morgan Duality”, which states that
‘Interchanging of Duals pairs in Boolean algebra will result in same output of the
equation’.
There is one special type of operation in duality that is ‘Self-dual’.A self-dual
operation processes the input to the output, without making any changes to it. So
this is also called “Do nothing operation”.
Example:
If we have the Boolean equation like A + B = 0, then the equation formedby
replacing the variable 0 with 1 and replacing the OR operator with AND operator
is A * B = 1. This means both the Boolean functions are represents the operation
of logic circuit.
As per Duality principle, if A, B are two variables then both the equations A + B =
0 and A * B = 1 are true in case of same logic circuit.
Simplification of Boolean functions using Duality
Example of simplification of Boolean function by using Duality concept
(A +B’ C)’ = A’ B C + A’ B C’ + A’ B’ C’
= A’ B (C + C’) + (B + B’) A’ C’
= A’ B + A’ C’ – – – – – – – -> (1)
Taking inverse on both sides, the equations becomes
(A +B’ C) = (A + B’) (A + C) – – – – – – – -> (2)
If we observe the equations 1 and 2, we can observe that the AND operator and
OR operators are interchanged. Hence Duality theorem is proved.
Boolean functions can be simplified by using max terms (SOP) and mean terms
(POS) method, based on Duality principle.
SOP method means, sum of products. In this method, the max terms of Boolean
variables are written as their sum of products.
POS method means, product of sums. In this method, the min terms of Boolean
variables are written as their product of sums.
We will discuss these topics briefly, in our further tutorials.
De Morgan’s Theorem
Boolean algebra involves in binary addition, binary subtraction, binary division
and binary multiplication of binary numbers. Similar to these basic laws, there is
another important theorem in which the Boolean algebraic system mostly
depends on. That is De Morgan’s law.
This can be also known as De Morgan’s theorem. This law works depending of
the concept of Duality. Duality means interchanging the operators and variables
in a function, such as replacing 0 with 1 and 1 with 0,AND operator with OR
operator and OR operator with AND operator.
De Morgan’s law is like extension of the Duality principle. De Morgan proposed 2
theorems, which will help us in solving the algebraic problems in digital
electronics.
The De Morgan’s statements are,
Statement 1:
“The negation of conjunction is the disjunction of the negations”. Or we can
define that as “The compliment of the product of 2 variables is equal to the sum
of the compliments of individual variables”.
(A.B)’ = A’ + B’
Statement 2:
“The negation of disjunction is the conjunction of the negations”. Or we can
define that as “The compliment of the sum of two variables is equal to the
product of the compliment of each variable”.
(A + B)’ = A’.B’
Truth Tables
The De Morgan’s laws are simply explained by using the truth tables.
The truth table for De Morgan’s first statement((A.B)’ = A’ + B’) is given below.
So the De Morgan’s first law can also be expressed as “not (A and B) is equal to
(not A) or (not B)”.
The truth table for De Morgan’s second statement ((A + B)’ = A’.B’) is given
below.
So the De Morgan’s first law can also be expressed as “not (A or B) is equal
to(not A) and (not B)”.
DeMorgan’s Theorem in Gates
The De Morgan’s theorem can be proved by using basic logic gates such as
AND gates and OR gates.
For statement 1: (A.B)’ = A’ + B’
The output of aNAND gate (AND gate with a NOT gate at its output side) is equal
to output of the gate formed by connecting two NOT gates at the inputsof OR
gate. This can be said as,
NANDgate= Bubbled OR gate
For statement 2: (A + B)’ = A’.B’
The output of a NOR gate (OR gate with a NOT gate at its output side) is equal
to output of the gate formed by connecting two NOT gates at the inputs of AND
gate. This can be said as,
NOR gate= Bubbled AND gate
Let’s see some examples to understand how the De Morgan’s theorem is used to
simplify the Boolean equations.
Example 1:
Simplify the below Boolean equation by using De Morgan’s theorem.
F =(((A .B ̅ ) )̅ .(B ̅ + C)) ̅
Sol:
Given F = (((A .B ̅ ) )̅ .(B ̅ + C)) ̅
= (((A .B ̅ ) )̅ ) ̅ + ((B ̅ + C)) ̅
= (A .B )̅ + (B ̅ ̅ .C )̅
= (A .B ̅) + (B.C )̅
Therefore the simplified form of the given equation is F = (A .B )̅ + (B.C )̅
Example 2
Simplify the poorly designed logic circuitand find the simplified Boolean equation
for the output equation.
Sol:
In the given circuit, the output equation is,
F2= ((A ̅ + C).((AB) )̅ ) ̅
=((A ̅ + C) )̅ + (AB) ̅ ̅
= ((A ̅ + C) )̅ + AB
= (A ̅ C
̅ )̅ + AB
= (AC )̅ + (AB)
Therefore the simplified output of the given circuit isF2 = (AC ̅) + (AB).
Consensus Theorem
Consensus theorem is an important theorem in Boolean algebra, to solve and
simplify the Boolean functions.
Statement
The consensus theorem states that the consensus term of a disjunction is
defined when the terms in function are reciprocals to each other (such as A and
A )̅ . Consensus theorem is defined in two statements (normal form and its dual).
They are
AB + ĀC+BC = AB+ĀC
(A+B)( Ā+C)(B+C) = (A+B)( Ā+C)
Proof of Consenus theorem
Statement 1: AB + ĀC+BC = AB+ĀC
AB+ĀC+BC = AB + ĀC + BC.1
= AB + ĀC + BC (A + Ā) → since A + Ā = 1
= AB + ĀC + ABC + ĀBC
= AB (1 + C) + ĀC (1 + B)
= AB + ĀC → since 1 + B = 1 + C = 1
Example
By using consensus theorem, prove that A’BD’ + BCD + ABC’ + AB’D = BC’D’ +
AD + A’BC
Sol:
A’BD’ + BCD + ABC’ + AB’D = A’BD’ + BCD + ABC’ + AB’D + A’BC + BC’D’ +
ABD
= AD + A’BD’ + BCD + ABC’ + A’BC + BC’D’
= AD + A’BC + BC’D’
Dual of Consensus Theorem
The statement of dual of consensus theorem is
(A+B)(B+C)(A’+C) = (A+B)(A’+C)
Proof
Step 1: Reducing the left side of the equation
(A + B) (B + C) (A’ + C) = ((A + B) (B + C)) (A’ + C)
=(AB + AC + BB + BC)(A’+C)
= (AB + AC + B + BC) (A’ + C)
=(AB + AC + (B + BC)) (A’ + C)
= (AB + AC + B) (A’ + C)
= (B + AB + AC) (A’ + C)
= ((B + AB) + AC) (A’ + C)
= (B + AC) (A’ + C)
= A’B + BC + AA’C + ACC
= A’B + BC + 0 + AC
= A’B + BC + AC
Step 2: Reducing the right side of the equation
(A+B) (A’+C) = AA’ + A’B + AC + BC
=0 + A’B + AC + BC
=A’B + AC + BC
Now we can see that, R.H.S. = L.H.S.
Hence,the Dual of the consensus theorem is proved.
Shannon’s Expansion Theorems
The well known theorist and mathematician, Claude Shannon proposed some
formulae after researching in the simplification of Boolean algebraic functions.
These are known as Shannon’s Expansion Theorem. These are used to expand
a Boolean function about a single variable.
Theorem 1:
f (A1,A2, A3, . . . . Ai, . . . . An) = Ai . f (A1, A2, A3, . . . . 1, . . . An)+ A i̅ . (A1, A2,
A3, . . . . 0, . . . An)
Example:
f (A, B, C, D, E, F) = C . f(A, B, 1, D, E, F) + C .̅ f (A, B, 0, D, E, F)
Theorem 2:
f (A1¬, A2, A3, . . . . Ai, . . . . An) = [Ai + f (A1, A2, A3, . . . . . . An)]. [A i̅ + (A1, A2,
A3, . . . . 1, . . . An)]
Example:
f (A, B, C, D, E, F) = [C + f (A, B, 0 , D, E, F)] .[C +
̅ f (A, B, 1, D, E, F)]
Simplification of Boolean functions using Shannon’s Expansion Theorems
Practice 1:
Expand the given Boolean function using Shannon’s expansion theorem.
f (A, B, C, D) = A B ̅ + (A C + B) D
Sol: Given function is
f (A, B, C, D) =A B ̅ + (A C + B) D
= A [1. B ̅ + (1 . C + B) D] + A ̅ [0 . B ̅ + (0 . C + B) D]
= A [B ̅ + (C + B) D] +A ̅ [B D]
= A B ̅ + A (C + B) D + A B
̅ D
Practice 2:
Expand the given Boolean function using Shannon’s expansion theorem.
f (A, B, C, D) = A C
̅ + (B + AD) C
Sol:
Given function is
f (A, B, C, D) = A ̅ C+ (B + AD) C
= A [1 ̅ . C + (B + 1 . D) C] + A [0 ̅ . C + (B + 0 . D) C]
= A [0 . C + (B + D) C] + A [1 . C + (B + 0 . D) C]
= A (B +D) C + A (̅ C + BC)
Shannon’s Reduction Theorems
Shannon’s reduction Theorems are used to reduce a Boolean function about a
single variable.
Theorem 1:
Ai. f(A1, A2, A3, . . . . Ai, . . . . , An) = Ai . f(A1, A2, A3, . . . . 1, . . . . , An)
Ai+ f(A1, A2, A3, . . . . Ai, . . . . , An) = Ai+ f(A1, A2, A3, . . . . 0, . . . . , An)
Example:
B . f (A, B, C, D, E, F) = B . f (A, 1, C, D, E, F)
B + f (A, B, C, D, E, F) = B + f (A, 0, C, D, E, F)
Theorem 2:
(A_i ) ̅ . f(A1, A2, A3, . . . . Ai, . . . . , An) = (A_i ) .̅ f(A1, A2, A3, . . . . 0, . . . . , An)
(A_i ) +
̅ f(A1, A2, A3, . . . . Ai, . . . . , An) = (A_i ) ̅ + f(A1, A2, A3, . . . . 1, . . . . ,
An)
Example:
B ̅ . f (A, B, C, D, E, F) = B .̅ f (A, 0, C, D, E, F)
B+
̅ f (A, B, C, D, E, F) = B +
̅ f (A, 1, C, D, E, F)
Simplification of Boolean functions using Shannon’s Reduction Theorems
Practice 1:
Expand the given Boolean function using Shannon’s reduction theorem.
f (A, B, C, D) = A [A ̅ (B + C) + (A + D)]
Sol: Given function is
f (A, B, C, D) = A [A ̅ (B + C) + (A + D)]
= A . [ 1’ (B +C) + (1 + D)]
= A . [0 (B +C) + (1 + D)
= AD
Practice 2:
Expand the given Boolean function using Shannon’s reduction theorem.
f (A, B, C, D) = A + A’ B + A C’ (B + C) (B + D)
Sol: Given function is
f (A, B, C, D) = A + A’ B + A C’ (B + C) (B + D)
= A + 0’ B + 0 C’ (B +C) (B + D)
=A+1.B
=A+B