When Should I Use Minterms and Maxterms in Digital Electronics?

[TheTopGun]

Homework Statement

Ok, so I have a digital electronics exam tomorrow, pretty confident with everything except when I should use minterms and maxterms.

As I understand...

using tabular method to find a minimum SOP expression I would use the minterms and if I need to find a minimum POS expression I would use the maxterms.

Homework Equations

For example:

Use tabular method to find a minimum POS expression for the following, F(A,B,C,D)=M(0,2,3,8,12,13,15)

I would simply use 0000,0010,0011...etc

However if I was asked to find the SOP I would have to convert to minterms so..
F(A,B,C,D)=m(1,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,14)

then I would use 0001,0100,0101...etc

The Attempt at a Solution

I am fine with the tabular method itself just confused with the above.

Thankyou very much for anyone that can offer any insight.

 

[Vyse007]

That is correct. Every function can be described as a sum of minterms, or a product of maxterms.