# Boolean function: Wikis

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# Encyclopedia

In mathematics, a (finitary) Boolean function is a function of the form f : BkB, where B = {0, 1} is a Boolean domain and k is a nonnegative integer called the arity of the function. In the case where k = 0, the "function" is essentially a constant element of B.

Every k-ary Boolean formula can be expressed as a propositional formula in k variables x1,…,xk, and two propositional formulas are logically equivalent if and only if they express the same Boolean function. There are $2^{(2^k)}$ k-ary functions for every k.

## Boolean functions in applications

A Boolean function describes how to determine a Boolean value output based on some logical calculation from Boolean inputs. Such functions play a basic role in questions of complexity theory as well as the design of circuits and chips for digital computers. The properties of Boolean functions play a critical role in cryptography, particularly in the design of symmetric key algorithms (see substitution box).

Boolean functions are often represented by sentences in propositional logic, and sometimes as multivariate polynomials over GF(2), but more efficient representations are binary decision diagrams (BDD), negation normal forms, and propositional directed acyclic graphs (PDAG).

## References

• Digital Design, Mano. M. Morris

# Wiktionary

Up to date as of January 15, 2010

## English

### Noun

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Wikipedia

 Singular Boolean function Plural Boolean functions

Boolean function (plural Boolean functions)

1. (algebra, logic, computing) Any function based on the operations AND, OR and NOT, and whose elements are from the domain of Boolean algebra