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Boolean Algebra:
Theorems and Proofs
CK Cheng
April 26, 2011 Lecture notes
Theorem 9: De Morgans
Law
Theorem: For every pair a, b in set B:
(a+b) = ab, and (ab) = a+b.
Proof: We show that a+b and ab are
complementary.
In other words, we show that both of
the following are true (P4):
(a+b) + (ab) = 1, (a+b)(ab) = 0.
5
(a+b)(ab)
=(ab)(a+b)
(P1)
=aba+abb (P2)
=0*b+a*0
(P4)
=0+0 (Theorem 3)
=0 (P3)
#
0
1
2
3
0
0
1
2
3
1
1
1
3
3
2
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
&
0
1
2
3
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
2
0
0
2
2
3
0
1
2
3
0
1
P2: Distributive Laws
2
a # (b & c) = (a # b) & ( a # c)
3
a & (b # c) = (a & b) # (a & c)
P3: Identity Elements
&
a#0=a
0
a&3=a
P4: Complement Laws
1
a # a = 3
2
a & a = 0
0
1
2
3
1
1
3
3
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
0 1 2 3
0 0 0 0
0 1 0 1
0 0 2 2
3 0 1 2 3
6. Boolean
Transformation
Show that
ab+ab+ab = a+b
Proof 1: ab+ab+ab = ab+
(a+a)b P2
= ab + b
P4
= a + b
Theorem 8
Proof 2: ab+ab+ab
= ab+ab+ab+ab
Theorem 5
= ab + ab +ab+ab
Boolean Transformation
(ab+c)(a+b)(b+ac)
= (ab+c)(a+b)(b(ac)) (DeMorgans)
= (ab+c)(a+b)b(a+c) (DeMorgans)
= (ab+c)b(a+c) (Absorption)
= (abb+bc)(a+c) (P2)
= (0+bc)(a+c) (P4)
= bc(a+c) (P3)
= abc+bcc (P2)
= abc+0 (P4)
= abc (P3)
10