The Truth Table Tells All
2. Decoding the XOR Truth Table
To really get a handle on XOR, let's peek at its "truth table." This table shows all the possible combinations of inputs and their corresponding outputs. Think of it as the cheat sheet for XOR. Here's how it breaks down:
- 0 XOR 0 = 0
- 0 XOR 1 = 1
- 1 XOR 0 = 1
- 1 XOR 1 = 0
Notice the pattern? XOR only outputs a "1" (or "true") when the inputs are different. When the inputs are the same (both 0 or both 1), it outputs a "0" (or "false"). It's pretty straightforward once you see it laid out.
So, if we look at this table, you'll see in the last row, that "1 XOR 1" equals "0". It's not always intuitive at first but once you see the truth table, you'll see the pattern very quickly and clearly.
This is a critical element of the function as it defines how and why it functions. Without the truth table, there would not be a functional understanding of how it is intended to be used.
So, What Is 1 XOR 1? The Answer Revealed!
3. The Grand Finale
Based on the truth table (and all the brainpower we've just expended), the answer is clear: 1 XOR 1 = 0. That's it! No smoke and mirrors, no complex calculations, just a simple logical operation.
The reason for this is the "exclusive" part of the operation, as described above. Since both inputs are the same, there is no exclusivity, there is no uniqueness. This similarity results in a '0' output.
It's important to understand that this isn't just some arbitrary rule. It's based on the fundamental principle of exclusive OR, which has important applications in all sorts of computer science.
It is a simple solution, however, it is a fundamental building block of computer logic, and an important concept to understand. If you didn't understand it before, you should now!
