Full Adder Truth Table: Solving the Mystery

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding the truth table for a full adder, specifically addressing the carry-in and sum outputs based on different input combinations. Participants explore the implications of binary addition and how carry values are derived in the context of a full adder circuit.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion about the second row of the truth table, questioning how a carry of 1 and a sum of 1 can occur when both A and B are 0.
  • Several participants clarify that the truth table includes three inputs: A, B, and C-in, and discuss the role of carry-in from previous additions.
  • There is a debate about the source of the carry-in value, with some suggesting it comes from the previous binary addition, while others question the independence of each row in the truth table.
  • One participant proposes that the carry-in of 1 in the second row may simply be a given value to illustrate all possible input combinations, rather than derived from prior calculations.
  • Participants provide examples of binary addition to illustrate how carry values are generated, but some still express uncertainty about the relationship between the truth table and the addition process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally do not reach a consensus on the interpretation of the truth table and the nature of the carry-in values. Multiple competing views remain regarding the independence of rows and the derivation of carry values.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights potential misunderstandings about how binary addition works in conjunction with the truth table, particularly regarding the assumptions about carry-in values and their dependence on previous calculations.

DiamondV
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I don't understand the second row of the truth table. If A is 0 and B is also 0 how is there a carry of 1 and a sum of 1. 0+0=0
 
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There are three inputs to that table, not two. They are A, B, and C-in.
 
anorlunda said:
There are three inputs to that table, not two. They are A, B, and C-in.

Where does the 1 of carry in come from? The carry in is created from the previous binary addition isn't it? If the carry out of the first addition is 0, how can there be a carry into the second one?
 
DiamondV said:
Where does the 1 of carry in come from?

It comes from the previous digit. Each binary digit when added creates a carry bit to the next most significant digit.
 
anorlunda said:
It comes from the previous digit. Each binary digit when added creates a carry bit to the next most significant digit.

Isn't that when only 1+1 is added? Like if I add 0+1. Ill get a sum of 1 and no carry as the resulting sum is a binary digit and isn't over 1.
 
Add 0011 plus 0001.

First digit 1+1 yields sum 0 carry 1.
Second digit 1+0+carry = 1+0+1 yields sum 0 carry 1.
Third digit 0+0+carry = 0+0+1 yields sum 1 carry 0
Fourth digit 0+0+carry = 0+0+0 yields sum 0 carry 0

Total sum 0100.

Does that help?
 
anorlunda said:
Add 0011 plus 0001.

First digit 1+1 yields sum 0 carry 1.
Second digit 1+0+carry = 1+0+1 yields sum 0 carry 1.
Third digit 0+0+carry = 0+0+1 yields sum 1 carry 0
Fourth digit 0+0+carry = 0+0+0 yields sum 0 carry 0

Total sum 0100.

Does that help?

Not really. I understand what your doing here with binary addition. But for some reason I am not understand where the carry in of 1 exactly came from. Like in the example you gave, since the first addition is 1+1 which in binary results in 10(from the rules that I've learnt), you write down the 0 as a sum and the 1 becomes a carry for the next addition, in which you're going to add the next two digits but also the carry from the last one. In the truth table above, the first addition is 0+0+0 which is 0 sum and 0 carry out. Since the carry out for the first addition is 0, how is there a carry in of 1 for the second addition

EDIT: Or wait? Is each row independent of other rows? So the carry in of 1 in the second row is just a value given to us, threres no reasoning behind it, is it just to show all possible values of each input A, B and carry in?
 
You are reading the table wrong. Each row in the table represents one of the eight possible combinations of A, B, and carry for a single binary digit. Each row is not the result of the row above.

To add 0011+0001 you must apply the entire table four times.
 
anorlunda said:
You are reading the table wrong. Each row in the table represents one of the eight possible combinations of A, B, and carry for a single binary digit. Each row is not the result of the row above.

To add 0011+0001 you must apply the entire table four times.
Ah. so for the first addition of your example of 1+1, I go to the A=1 and B=1 in the table and get the sum from there and also then use the carry out of that addition as the carry in of the next addition of 1+0 +carryin of 1
 
  • #10
Yes
 

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