Logic Gates

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Test Yourself

Logic Gates

• A logic gate is a building block of a digital circuit. Logic gates perform a logical operation on
one or more binary inputs to produce a binary output

• An electrical signal entering the logic gate is represented by a 1

• No electrical signal is represented by a 0

• There are several types of logic gates, each performing a specific logical operation

• Logic gates can be combined to carry out meaningful functions such as

performing calculations or checking if data meets certain conditions

A table showing the symbol used to represent each logic gate

Gate Symbol Description

The NOT gate takes a single binary input and outputs the
NOT
opposite of the input

The AND gate takes two inputs and produces one output

Only two positive inputs (1 and 1) will result in a positive output

AND
of1

If either of the inputs is a 0 the output will be a 0

 The OR gate takes two inputs and produces one output
OR
If either of the inputs is positive (1) the output will be 1

A NAND gate is a combination of an AND gate followed by a

NAND NOT gate. If both inputs are a 1 it will output a 0. Any other

combination of inputs will result in an output of 1

A NOR gate is a combination of an OR gate followed by a NOT gate

NOR inputs are 0 it will output a 1. Any other combination of inputs will
output of 0

An XOR gate (exclusive OR) will output a 1 if the inputs are

XOR
different to one another (a 1 and a 0)

Exam Tip

• You will need to either draw a diagram of a logic circuit using these symbols, or you will have
to interpret an existing diagram. This is why it is important to remember the symbol of each
gate and the logic rules for each one
Truth Tables

NOT gate

• A NOT gate has one input and will invert it to produce an opposite output. This is shown in
the truth table below

• A is the input

• Z is the output

Input Output

A Z

0 1

1 0

AND gate

• An AND gate has two inputs

Input Output

A B Z
0 0 0

0 1 0

1 0 0

1 1 1

• The AND gate truth table shows the only combination of inputs which will result in a positive
output is 1 and 1

OR gate

• An OR gate has two inputs

Input Output

A B Z

0 0 0

0 1 1

1 0 1

1 1 1

• The truth table shows an OR gate produces an output of 1 if any of the inputs are a 1

NOR gate

• A NOR gate has two inputs

Input Output

A B Z

0 0 1

0 1 0

1 0 0

1 1 0

• The truth table shows a NOR gate works oppositely to an OR gate - the only input
combination which results in a 1 is two 0s

NAND gate

• A NAND gate has two inputs

Input Output

A B Z

0 0 1
0 1 1

1 0 1

1 1 0

• The truth table shows a NAND gate works in the opposite way to an AND gate - the only
input combination which does not result in a 1 is two positive inputs (1 +1)

XOR gate

• An XOR gate has two inputs

Input Output

A B Z

0 0 0

0 1 1

1 0 1

1 1 0

• The truth table shows how an XOR gate works. It will only output a 1 if the two inputs
are different to one another

Worked example

A truth table for a two input (A and B) logic gate

A B X

0 0 0

0 1 1

1 0 1
1 1 1

Identify what logic gate the truth table is representing

[1]

OR [1]

What symbol is used to represent this logic gate?

[1]

[1]

• Truth tables can also be used to help work out the possible outputs of a logic
circuit containing more than one gate

Exam Tip

• You will only be asked to create truth tables for logic circuits with three inputs. The number
of rows you should have in a three input truth table is 8 (not including the headings)

• When creating a truth table for multiple inputs, begin by entering the possible input
combinations into the leftmost columns

A truth table for a three input (A, B and C) logic gate

A B C Z

0 0 0

0 0 1

0 1 0

0 1 1

1 0 0

1 0 1

1 1 0

1 1 1
›

• The column on the right contains the final output of the logic circuit (Z)

• Column(s) in between the inputs and the final output can be used to help work out the final
output by containing intermediary outputs

• Intermediary outputs are the output of gates found within the logic circuit

• In the logic circuit diagram below, D and E are intermediary outputs

• The fourth column labelled D represents the output of NOT A

A B C D (NOT A) E Z

0 0 0 1

0 0 1 1

0 1 0 1

0 1 1 1

1 0 0 0

1 0 1 0

1 1 0 0

1 1 1 0

• The next intermediary output is E which is the equivalent of ((NOT A) AND B) this notation is
called a logic expression

• The E intermediary output can be worked out by performing the AND logical operation on
columns B and D

A B C D (NOT A) E ((NOT A) AND B) Z

0 0 0 1 0

0 0 1 1 0

0 1 0 1 1

0 1 1 1 1

1 0 0 0 0

1 0 1 0 0

1 1 0 0 0

1 1 1 0 0

• The final output (Z) can be worked out by performing the OR logical operation on columns E
and C

A B C D (NOT A) E ((NOT A) AND B) Z (((NOT A) AND B) OR C)

0 0 0 1 0 0

0 0 1 1 0 1

0 1 0 1 1 1

0 1 1 1 1 1

1 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 1 0 0 1

1 1 0 0 0 0

1 1 1 0 0 1

Exam Tip

• In the exam it is likely truth tables will just contain columns for the inputs and the final
output. You can still work out intermediary outputs to help you find the final output answers

Worked example
Complete the Truth table for the logic circuit above

A B Q

0 0

0 1

1 0

1 1

[4]

A B Q

0 0 1

0 1 1

1 0 0

1 1 1
Logic Circuits

• Logic gates can be combined to produce different outputs

• The combination of two or more logic gates forms a logic circuit

• A logic diagram is a visual representation of combinations of logic gates within a logic circuit

An example of Logic Circuit

• In this diagram, the inputs are represented by A and B

• P is the output of the OR gate on the left and becomes the input of the NOT gate. This is
called an intermediary output

• Q is the final output of the logic circuit

Exam Tip

• You may be asked to draw a logic circuit from a logic statement or a boolean expression.
Circuits must be drawn without simplification

• Logic circuits will be limited to a maximum of three inputs and one output

An example of Logic Circuit

 • This logic circuit contains three inputs (A, B and C)

• It contains a NAND gate, a NOT gate, a NOR gate and finally an OR gate

• X is the final output

• This logic circuit can be represented as a logic expression as

X=((NOT(A NAND B) OR (B NOR C

Worked example

A sprinkler system switches on if it is not daytime (input A) and the temperature is greater than 40
(input B)

Draw a logic circuit to represent the problem statement above

[2]

Exam Tip

• You may need to draw a logic circuit from a problem statement (as in the example above),
from a truth table or from a boolean expression

Test yourselfNext topic

Logic Expressions

• A logic expression is a way of expressing a logic gate or logic circuit as an equation

• The output appears on the left of the equals sign with the inputs and logic gates on the right

Gate Symbol Truth Table Logic Expression

A Z
NOT Z=NOT A
0 1

1 0

A B Z

0 0 0
AND Z=A AND B
0 1 0

1 0 0

1 1 1

A B Z

0 0 0
OR Z=A OR B
0 1 1

1 0 1

1 1 1

A B Z

0 0 1
NAND Z=A NAND B
0 1 1

1 0 1

1 1 0
 A B Z

0 0 1
NOR Z=A NOR B
0 1 0

1 0 0

1 1 0

A B Z

0 0 0
XOR Z=A XOR B
0 1 1

1 0 1

1 1 0

• Logic circuits containing multiple gates can also be expressed as logic expressions/statements

An example logic circuit containing two inputs

• The logic circuit above can be expressed as the logic expression Q= NOT(A OR B)

An example logic circuit containing two inputs

• The logic circuit above can be expressed as the logic expression Q= (NOT A) AND B
An example logic circuit containing three inputs

• The logic circuit above can be expressed as the logic expression P = ((NOT A) OR B) NAND C

An example logic circuit containing three inputs

• This logic circuit above can be expressed as X = NOT (A NAND B) OR (B NOR C)

Exam Tip

• You may be required to write a logic expression/statement from a truth table or a logic
circuit. You may also have to do the opposite - draw a logic circuit and complete a truth
table for a logic expression

Worked example
Consider the logic statement: X = (((A AND B) OR (C AND NOT B)) XOR NOT C)

a. Draw a logic circuit to represent the given logic statement.

[6]

One mark per correct logic gate, with the correct input

Test yourself
EXAM QUESTIONS - LOGIC GATES

EXAMPLE QUESTION 1

REVEAL ANSWERS

Question 2 requires you to match logic gate symbols to their name by drawing a straight line to link
them.

Answers
EXAMPLE QUESTION 2
REVEAL ANSWERS

10

(a) Question 10 (a) requires you to fill in the truth table for a NOR gate. Remember that a NOR gate
is essentially the opposite of an or gate. X will only be 1 if Neither of the inputs are 1 and both of
them are not 1.

Answers

(b) Question 10 (b) asks you to write a logic statement for the given diagram

For this question 1 mark would be awarded for each correct part of the answer.

Answer
The whole answer should look something like this:

X = (A AND B) AND (C OR NOT B)

1 mark for each of the following sections

(A AND B) = 1 mark
AND = 1 mark
(C OR NOT B) = 1 mark

EXAMPLE QUESTION 3

REVEAL ANSWERS
10

Below are the answers for the diagram and truth table that you are required to produce for question
10. Remember that for 10(a) a mark is awarded for each correct gate with the correct inputs. This
means that marks can be awarded even if the diagram is not perfect.
Answers

EXAMPLE QUESTION 4
REVEAL ANSWERS

(a) Question 5 (a) provides you with a logic statement and asks you to draw a diagram. Remember to
take your time here to fully understand the statement. 1 mark is awarded for each correct gate.

Answer

(b) Question 5 (b) asks for you to draw an XOR gate and then explain the function of it. When
drawing gates remember to take your time and make sure that it is clear, you do not want the
examiner to get confused by what gate you are trying to draw!

Answers

EXAMPLE QUESTION 5

REVEAL ANSWERS
7

Question 7 provides you with a logic statement and asks you to draw a diagram. This is quite a long
logic statement with three bracketed sections. The question is worth 7 marks so you should make
sure to spend some time planning this diagram.

Answers:

EXAMPLE QUESTION 6
REVEAL ANSWERS

(a) Question 3 (a) provides you with a logic diagram and asks you to complete a truth table. This
diagram contains an XOR gate a NOR and a NAND so be sure to take your time when completing the
table.
Answers:

(b) Part B asks you to explain the difference between an AND and a OR gate. The question is worth 3
marks. Each of the following points are worth 1 mark (Max 3)

Answers

• output of AND is 1 if both inputs are 1

• output of AND is 0 if either or both inputs are 0

• output of OR is 1 if either input is 1

• output of OR is 0 if both inputs are 0

• Correct example of AND truth table

• Correct example of OR truth table