Logic and computers

What this work will do:

The aim is to cover

1. Introduction

2. A starter activity - What is logic in computing ?

3. What are the building blocks of logic?

4. Simple Boolean Algebra

a. How do we turn a true or false statement into a logic diagram,

b. Truth tables – representing possible inputs and results

5. Turning the algebra expression into a logic circuit

6. Building a demonstration circuit using logic designer software

7. Bringing it together - building the major computer circuits

8. Summary Question – try a real A level Q

9. Follow up – questions about the course

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1. Introduction
Computers are built around electronic circuits which are made up from wires and billions of transistors.
These are engineered to form ‘logic gates’ like this

Source: https://www.quora.com/How-are-electricity-and-computers-related

Electricity flows through these logic gates and represents signals we need to act on

In computers we need to

A. Store values being worked on.

B. Do CALCULATIONS
C. Compare one binary value with another.
D. Select which signal to send from one of several inputs.
E. Output a value e.g. for an 8 SEGMENT LED

Computers work on a Binary or base 2 system, where values are on or off (AKA true or false, yes or no, 0 or 1).

It makes sense to create the circuits we need based on a similar ON/OFF, TRUE or FALSE, 0 or 1 system.

The system used is that based on BOOLEAN LOGIC.

This uses inputs and outputs of ON/OFF only.

In the computer’s case the circuits take in signals (voltages) representing 0 or 1 and produce ouputs signals
(voltages) representing 0 or 1.

The results therefore depend on what you put in and what you designed the circuit to do logically to give you
the output you want.

For example

An interior light in a two-door car is controlled by two switches that the driver can turn on or off
and two sensors, one per door. The switches are named A and B.

The door sensors are named C and D. The interior light is named L.
If a door is open the output of its sensor is on(C or D = TRUE).
If a door is closed the output of its sensor is off (C or D = FALSE).
• If both switches A and B are off then the light L is always off.( A and B = FALSE)
• If switch A is on the light L is always on.(A= TRUE)
• If switch B is on and switch A is off then:
○ the light L turns on if one or more of the car doors is opened B = TRUE and C OR
D = true)
○ the light L turns off if both of the doors are closed. (C OR D OR BOTH = FALSE)

Becomes: (there are at least three other ways of doing this!)

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A starter activity - What is logic in computing ?
Logic is based on input values that can be TRUE or FALSE. These values are used to give a result
(which is also true or false).

Example Flowchart: If it is raining then I will not go to school.

Start

True (Y)
This is a decision – is it
It is
raining? Do not go to school
raining

No (F)

Go to school

We can use a table to get the answer.

This is a single question
It is raining Result – you get 2 possible
T Do not go to school results
F Go to school

We can add in more questions

Example: If it is raining AND I have to walk the dog then I will not go to school.

A truth table shows all possible input combinations and the answer for each of combination of
questions.
e.g. 1 question = 2 results,
2 questions = 4 results and so on

Fill in the new TRUTH table.

It is raining I have to walk the Result
dog
Y
This is 2 questions –
Y you get 4 results
because there are 2
N possible results for
combination of input
N

2. What are the building blocks of logic?

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The basic operations in logic are called logical operators (logical really!!). These are:

a. AND
b. OR
c. NOT
d. XOR

An operator takes at least one and usually 2 or more input values and produces an output

If you are not sure, look at http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zc4bb9q/revision/1

TASK 1 Quick definitions – fill in the blanks on the grid below

Common Posh proper Number of Explanation How can it be

operator name inputs written as a logical
name (1, 2 ) operation?
(Optional)
AND Conjunction 2 Both inputs must be true for the A.B
output to be true A AND B
Input 1 = it is raining = T, A^B
Input 2 = I have to walk the dog = T,
Output = will not go to school =T
OR Dysjunction

XOR Exclusive
Dysjunction

NOT Negation

There are other logical operators to enjoy(!) e.g.

NAND,

NOR and

NXOR.

These are combinations of the ones in the above table

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4. Simple Boolean algebra
Using letters rather than sentences enables us to write a more algebraic form of the problem ( i.e. in a
simpler form). The following statement:

If it is raining and I have to walk the dog then I will not go to school

can be divided into three parts - two expressions (questions if you like) and a result based on whether the
questions are answered as True or False

Question Algebra form Possible result

is it raining? (the first expression) A True or False
do I have to walk the dog B True or False
(the second expression)
I will not go to school (result) R True or False depending
on the value of the inputs

By replacing the questions with letters we simplify the problem to an algebraic form . this is a truth table

e.g.
A B R
F F F
F T F
T F F
T T T

This gives us an expression of R = A AND B (this can also be written as R = A.B or R= A^B)

TASK:
Fill in the truth table below for the following problem

If it is sunny (A) or I am happy (B), then I will go out for the day (R)

What are the possible values for A and B? What is the possible result in each case for R?

A (it is B (I am happy)? R (Go out for the day)

sunny)
F F F

What’s the Boolean algebra expression for this?

R=
…………………………………………………………….

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5. Turning the algebra expression into a logic diagram

To represent these circuits, we use LOGIC GATE diagrams which have a number of input lines and an
output line. Each logical operator has a logic gate shape for it

Converting between LOGICAL ALGEBRA EXPRESSIONS & LOGIC CIRCUITS

A logical algebra expression is converted to a logic circuit by substituting in an appropriate logic gate
for each part of the logical algebra expression

Example 1: the logical algebra expression A.B becomes a single AND gate.

Example 2: the logical algebra expression Z= (A OR B) AND (not(B) OR C) becomes the following
circuit diagram

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6. Building a circuit using logic simulator software

We can create the circuit in a simulator and test it to see if it gives the correct results.
The link allows you to create and test logic circuits the http://www.neuroproductions.be/logic-lab/
The software is drag and drop so drag out the components, drop them on the screen then link together from
the contact points (when these go green then drag to the next point to link the components together
Task: Use the inputs, logic ports and output sections to build solutions to the following problems.

INPUT A = LYNN likes chocolate ice cream ( can be true or false)

INPUT B = LYNN likes vanilla ice cream ( can be true or false)
RESULT R = is true if Lynn likes chocolate ice cream(A= T) AND likes vanilla ice
cream(B=T)

This shows the circuit built from the expression A and B. Click on the switches to see it work

Task: Try building the circuit for the extended ice cream problem
INPUT A = LYNN likes chocolate ice cream ( can be true or false)
INPUT B = LYNN likes vanilla ice cream ( can be true or false)
INPUT C = LYNN does not like ginger ice cream
RESULT R = is true if Lynn likes chocolate ice cream(A= T) OR likes vanilla ice
cream(B=T) AND dislikes ginger ice cream (C =T)

Task: Given the diagram below, try building and testing the circuit for it

TASK: here are a range of logical algebra expressions. Build and test the circuit for each one
1. A XOR B XOR C
2. (A XOR C) OR B
3. A OR (not(B))
4. A AND not(C OR B)
5. Not(A AND B AND C)

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7. Bringing it together - building the major computer circuits

TASK: Using the http://www.neuroproductions.be/logic-lab/ link, build and test the following circuit
diagrams

You will need to create a truth table for each circuit to prove that your answer is correct

1. Addition - Full adder TRUTH TABLE(S)

2. Comparison - Comparator circuit

TRUTH TABLE
A Not(A) B Not(B) C= B and not(A) E = A and not(B) D= Not(C or D)
0 0
0 1
1 0
1 1

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 3. Storage - D type flip flop ( e.g. used in registers or RAM)

TRUTH TABLE

D Clk Q Not Q
0 0 0
0 1 0
1 0 0
1 1 1

e.g. flip flop example answer at : http://www.neuroproductions.be/logic-lab/index.php?id=91268

4. Multiplexor A multiplexer performs the function of selecting the input on any one of 'n'
input lines and feeding this input to one output line. The diagram below is a 2 to 1
multiplexer

TRUTH TABLE
A B X Not(X) A and not(X) B and not(X) Y

TASK: Extension
Can you join the adder and flipflop together so that the results of the adder (the sum(S) and the carry(C)) get
stored ( S goes into one flip flop, C goes into another!)

Congrats – you have just built a simple computer!!

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8. Summary Question - a real A level Question:
Q17.
A burglar alarm system is to be implemented that has the following sensors:

• a door sensor D that outputs TRUE when the door is open and FALSE when the door is
shut
• a pressure mat sensor M that outputs TRUE while a weight is detected on it and FALSE
when no weight is detected on it.

The alarm also has a key K that turns the alarm on and off. K outputs a TRUE signal when the
alarm is switched on and FALSE when the alarm is off.

The alarm output A sounds a bell. It should be TRUE if:

• the alarm is on AND

• either of the sensors D or M are set to the value TRUE.

(a) In the space below, draw a logic circuit that will behave as described above for the
inputs D, M and K and the output A.

(2)

(b) Write a Boolean expression to represent the logic of this alarm system.

A=...................................................................................................................

Build it and prove it!!!

So what else can we use logic for?

Have a look at these

http://pigofminecraft.blogspot.com/2011/07/xor-gates-how-and-why.html

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/logicblocks-experiment-guide/7-2-to-1-multiplexer

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