Karnaugh Maps: So What Is A Karnaugh Map?

Karnaugh Maps
So far we can see that applying Boolean algebra can be awkward in order to
simplify expressions. Apart from being laborious (and requiring the remembering
all the laws) the method can lead to solutions which, though they appear minimal,
are not.
The Karnaugh map provides a simple and straight-forward method of minimising

boolean expressions. With the Karnaugh map Boolean expressions having up to
four and even six variables can be simplified.
So what is a Karnaugh map?
A Karnaugh map provides a pictorial method of grouping together expressions

with common factors and therefore eliminating unwanted variables. The Karnaugh
map can also be described as a special arrangement of a truth table.
The diagram below illustrates the correspondence between the Karnaugh map and
the truth table for the general case of a two variable problem.
The values inside the squares are copied from the output column of the truth table,
therefore there is one square in the map for every row in the truth table. Around the
edge of the Karnaugh map are the values of the two input variable. A is along the
top and B is down the left hand side. The diagram below explains this:
The values around the edge of the map can be thought of as coordinates. So as an
example, the square on the top right hand corner of the map in the above diagram
has coordinates A=1 and B=0. This square corresponds to the row in the truth table
where A=1 and B=0 and F=1. Note that the value in the F column represents a
particular function to which the Karnaugh map corresponds.
Examples
Example 1:
Consider the following map. The function plotted is: Z = f(A,B) = A + AB
 Note that values of the input variables form the rows and columns. That is
the logic values of the variables A and B (with one denoting true form and
zero denoting false form) form the head of the rows and columns
respectively.
 Bear in mind that the above map is a one dimensional type which can be
used to simplify an expression in two variables.
 There is a two-dimensional map that can be used for up to four variables,
and a three-dimensional map for up to six variables.
Using algebraic simplification,
Z = A + AB
Z = A( + B)
Z=A
Variable B becomes redundant due to Boolean Theorem T9a.
Referring to the map above, the two adjacent 1's are grouped together.
Through inspection it can be seen that variable B has its true and false form
within the group. This eliminates variable B leaving only variable A which
only has its true form. The minimised answer therefore is Z = A.
Example 2:
Consider the expression Z = f(A,B) = +A + B plotted on the

Karnaugh map:
Pairs of 1's are grouped as shown above, and the simplified answer is
obtained by using the following steps:
Note that two groups can be formed for the example given above, bearing in
mind that the largest rectangular clusters that can be made consist of two 1s.
Notice that a 1 can belong to more than one group.
The first group labelled I, consists of two 1s which correspond to A = 0, B =
0 and A = 1, B = 0. Put in another way, all squares in this example that
correspond to the area of the map where B = 0 contains 1s, independent of
the value of A. So when B = 0 the output is 1. The expression of the output
will contain the term
For group labelled II corresponds to the area of the map where A = 0. The
group can therefore be defined as . This implies that when A = 0 the output
is 1. The output is therefore 1 whenever B = 0 and A = 0
Hence the simplified answer is Z = +
Verify this algebraically in your notebooks.
Problems
Minimise the following problems using the Karnaugh maps method.
Z = f(A,B,C) = + B + AB + AC
Z = f(A,B,C) = B + B + BC + A
Click here for answers.

Karnaugh Maps - Rules of Simplification
The Karnaugh map uses the following rules for the simplification of expressions
by grouping together adjacent cells containing ones
 Groups may not include any cell containing a zero
 Groups may be horizontal or vertical, but not diagonal.
 Groups must contain 1, 2, 4, 8, or in general 2n cells.

That is if n = 1, a group will contain two 1's since 21 = 2.
If n = 2, a group will contain four 1's since 22 = 4.
 Each group should be as large as possible.
 Each cell containing a one must be in at least one group.
 Groups may overlap.
 Groups may wrap around the table. The leftmost cell in a row may be
grouped with the rightmost cell and the top cell in a column may be
grouped with the bottom cell.
 There should be as few groups as possible, as long as this does not

contradict any of the previous rules.
Summmary:
1. No zeros allowed.
2. No diagonals.
3. Only power of 2 number of cells in each group.
4. Groups should be as large as possible.
5. Every one must be in at least one group.
6. Overlapping allowed.
7. Wrap around allowed.
8. Fewest number of groups possible.
Examples
Example 1:
Consider the following map. The function plotted is: Z = f(A,B) = A + AB
 Note that values of the input variables form the rows and columns. That is
the logic values of the variables A and B (with one denoting true form and
zero denoting false form) form the head of the rows and columns
respectively.
 Bear in mind that the above map is a one dimensional type which can be
used to simplify an expression in two variables.
 There is a two-dimensional map that can be used for up to four variables,
and a three-dimensional map for up to six variables.
Using algebraic simplification,
Z = A + AB
Z = A( + B)
Z=A
Variable B becomes redundant due to Boolean Theorem T9a.
Referring to the map above, the two adjacent 1's are grouped together.
Through inspection it can be seen that variable B has its true and false form
within the group. This eliminates variable B leaving only variable A which
only has its true form. The minimised answer therefore is Z = A.
Example 2:
Consider the expression Z = f(A,B) = +A + B plotted on the

Karnaugh map:
Pairs of 1's are grouped as shown above, and the simplified answer is
obtained by using the following steps:
Note that two groups can be formed for the example given above, bearing in
mind that the largest rectangular clusters that can be made consist of two 1s.
Notice that a 1 can belong to more than one group.
The first group labelled I, consists of two 1s which correspond to A = 0, B =
0 and A = 1, B = 0. Put in another way, all squares in this example that
correspond to the area of the map where B = 0 contains 1s, independent of
the value of A. So when B = 0 the output is 1. The expression of the output
will contain the term
For group labelled II corresponds to the area of the map where A = 0. The
group can therefore be defined as . This implies that when A = 0 the output
is 1. The output is therefore 1 whenever B = 0 and A = 0
Hence the simplified answer is Z = +
Verify this algebraically in your notebooks.
Problems
Minimise the following problems using the Karnaugh maps method.
Z = f(A,B,C) = + B + AB + AC
Z = f(A,B,C) = B + B + BC + A
Click here for answers.

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Karnaugh Maps

The Karnaugh map provides a simple and straight-forward method of minimising

So what is a Karnaugh map?

A Karnaugh map provides a pictorial method of grouping together expressions

Consider the following map. The function plotted is: Z = f(A,B) = A + AB

Using algebraic simplification,

Variable B becomes redundant due to Boolean Theorem T9a.

Consider the expression Z = f(A,B) = +A + B plotted on the

Verify this algebraically in your notebooks.

Minimise the following problems using the Karnaugh maps method.

Click here for answers.

 Groups may not include any cell containing a zero

 Groups may be horizontal or vertical, but not diagonal.

 Groups must contain 1, 2, 4, 8, or in general 2n cells.

 Each cell containing a one must be in at least one group.

 Groups may overlap.

 There should be as few groups as possible, as long as this does not

Using algebraic simplification,

Variable B becomes redundant due to Boolean Theorem T9a.

Consider the expression Z = f(A,B) = +A + B plotted on the

Verify this algebraically in your notebooks.

Minimise the following problems using the Karnaugh maps method.

Click here for answers.

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