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Can you explain the rule of distributivity for Boolean algebra?

A + (B C) = (A + B) (A + C)

How does this make sense?

1 Answer

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Maybe it would help to work the problem

    the other direction to see that they really

    are equal.

    Given:

    A + (B C) = (A + B) (A + C)

    Work with the right side to produce the left.

    (A + B) (A + C)

    Distribute the operations (using FOIL):

    AA + AC + AB + BC

    Reduce AA = A

    A + AC + AB + BC

    Factor:

    A(1 + C + B) + BC

    Use 1 + "anything" = 1

    A(1) + BC

    Reduce:

    A + BC

    Therefore:

    A + (B C) = A + BC

    proven.

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