# Homework Help: 3-input AND - NAND equivalent?

1. Feb 16, 2012

### rjs123

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

I'm trying to convert the 3-input AND gate shown below using only NAND gates...but am having troubles. Is it possible to use only 2 NANDS for the conversion?

http://www.doctronics.co.uk/images/4081_03.gif [Broken]

Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2017
2. Feb 16, 2012

### LCKurtz

What about a 3 input NAND followed by a two input NAND used as an inverter?

3. Feb 17, 2012

### rjs123

I'm trying to convert this expression: ga + za + sgz

using just 2-input nand gates...more specifically the 7400 ic chip.

I'm trying to use as little NAND gates as possible. I've got (ga + za) down to 5 NAND gates currently...I can only use 8 total NANDS for this.

4. Feb 17, 2012

### LCKurtz

I can do that expression with six 2-input NANDs. I don't see how to show you how without showing the solution. Is this a homework problem to hand in?

5. Feb 18, 2012

### rjs123

Here is what I got....this is a practice problem to prepare for a midterm, but I would like to see how you used 6 NAND gates.

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/7766/schematic.jpg [Broken]

Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2017
6. Feb 18, 2012

### LCKurtz

OK. Here's my circuit. One NAND is used as an inverter.

7. Feb 20, 2012

### rjs123

thank you. I have one more expression for practice problems:

ab~ce + b~cde + cde + abc + acd~e (The ~ symbol represent "not")

I'm supposed to do this expression in 12 gates.

I currently have the last 3 condensed to: c(de + ab + ad~e)

The first two: b~ce(a + d)

so the final condensed form looks like this: b~ce(a + d) + c(de + ab + ad~e)

if you can try helping me convert this expression into a NAND diagram that would be great...thanks for your help again.

Last edited: Feb 20, 2012
8. Feb 20, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

You have written ab&ce

Is this any different from a&b&c&e ?

9. Feb 20, 2012

### rjs123

I changed the above post...it should be tilde symbols ~ for "not".

10. Feb 20, 2012

### LCKurtz

But in the expression ab~cd is it the b or the c that is the not? You can make the expressions much more readable with tex, like this: $ab\bar cd$. Here's how you enter it:
Code (Text):
$ab \bar cd$

11. Feb 20, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

Consider de + ad¬e
Take out the term d,
d (e + a¬e)

when e is TRUE, the bracketed expression = e
when e is FALSE, the bracketed expression evaluates = a

So,
d (e + a¬e) = d (e + a) = de + da

So c(de + ab + ad~e) = c (de + ab + ad) = c( d(e+a) + ab)

In the absence of better advice, I would implement paired terms, e.g.,
I would form E+A
then AND it with D
then form AB
then OR these two terms (using NAND gates)
then AND with C
then ....

This seems rather pedestrian, hopefully someone else has a better idea.

12. Feb 20, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

duplicate

Last edited: Feb 20, 2012
13. Feb 20, 2012

### rjs123

original form: $ab \bar ce$ + $b \bar cde$ + $cde$ + $abc$ + $acd \bar e$

condensed form: $b \bar c(ae + de)$ + $c(de + ab + ad \bar e)$

partial circuit diagram using NANDS $c(de + ab + ad \bar e)$:

I made that portion with 7 NANDS...I still have to finish the $b \bar c(ae + de)$ portion of the diagram...still have 5 NANDS left.

14. Feb 20, 2012

### rjs123

i figured it out thanks to oxygen's logic...I checked all 32 combinations for all the letters related to the problem...and all of the outputs came out correct.

final condensed form: c(de + da + ab) + b(ae + de)

heres my diagram:

Last edited: Feb 21, 2012
15. Feb 21, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

Good.

http://s16.postimage.org/mb1ot390j/tit.jpg

I think you unnecessarily duplicated D NAND E
when you could have used the output twice?

Last edited: Feb 21, 2012
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