Combinational logic is used to build circuits that produce specified outputs from certain inputs. The construction of combinational logic is generally done using one of two methods: a sum of products, or a product of sums. Consider the following truth table:
Using sum of products, all logical statements which yield true results are summed, giving the result:
Using Boolean algebra, the result simplifies to the following equivalent of the truth table:
Minimization (simplification) of combinational logic formulas is done using the following rules based on the laws of Boolean algebra:
With the use of minimization (sometimes called logic optimization), a simplified logical function or circuit may be arrived upon, and the logic combinational circuit becomes smaller, and easier to analyse, use, or build.
Savant, C.J. Jr.; Roden, Martin; Carpenter, Gordon (1991). Electronic Design: Circuits and Systems. Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company. p. 682. ISBN 0-8053-0285-9. 0-8053-0285-9 ↩
Lewin, Douglas (1974). Logical Design of Switching Circuits (2nd ed.). Thomas Nelson and Sons. pp. 162–3. ISBN 017-771044-6. 017-771044-6 ↩