Why Does a' * a' = a'? Explained!

  • Thread starter magnifik
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X. Therefore, a' * a' = a' and (a')' = a. This is because the complement of a' is a and the complement of a is a'. In summary, in a Boolean algebra, every element is idempotent, meaning that it is equal to its own product. This is why a' * a' = a'. Additionally, the complement of a' is a and the complement of a is a', which is why (a')' = a. This can be seen through a truth table.
  • #1
magnifik
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why does a' * a' = a' ??

this isn't a homework problem, but i am just wondering why because i used this to simplify another boolean equation. oh, and what's the difference between a' * a' and (a')' ? how do you even get (a')'?? confused :\
 
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  • #2
Every element in a Boolean algebra is idempotent: [tex]xx = x[/tex] for every [tex]x[/tex].

[tex]a'a'[/tex] is the product of [tex]a'[/tex] with itself; [tex](a')' = a[/tex] is [tex]a[/tex] complemented twice. Complement twice is the identity (complement is an involution).
 
  • #3
Make a truth table to see why.
X can equal only 1 or 0 thus the truth table for x*x is below :
--------
x x x*x
0 0 0
1 1 1
-------

As you see if X = 0, then X*X = 0 = X, and if X = 1, then X*X = 1 = X. Thus X*X = X
 

1. Why does a' * a' = a'?

The equation a' * a' = a' is a fundamental rule in mathematics known as the power rule. It states that when multiplying two numbers with the same base, the exponents are added together. In this case, a' is the same as a^1, so when multiplied by itself, the exponent is 1+1=2, resulting in a^2, which is equal to a.

2. How does this equation apply to real-life situations?

In real life, this equation can be seen in various scenarios such as calculating the area of a square, where the length and width are both represented by a. In this case, a' * a' would be the same as a^2, giving us the total area of the square.

3. Can this equation be extended to other powers?

Yes, this equation can be extended to any power. For example, a^3 * a^4 = a^(3+4) = a^7. This follows the same rule of adding the exponents when multiplying numbers with the same base.

4. Is this equation always true?

Yes, this equation is always true for any value of a. It is a fundamental rule in mathematics that has been proven to be true through various mathematical proofs.

5. How can I use this equation to simplify algebraic expressions?

When dealing with algebraic expressions, the power rule can be used to simplify them by combining like terms. For example, 2a * 3a = (2*3)a^(1+1) = 6a^2. This can help in solving equations and finding the value of variables.

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