Boolean Operators

Boolean Operators

Fundamentals of Computing 2022

History and Usage

• Created by George Boole mid-1800's

• Used to combine search terms for research

• Used to connect logical statements in math

• Used to create logic statements in computer science/programming.

• In CS and programming, results in one of two values: true or false.

Boolean Operators

• AND

• OR

• NOT

• Other Boolean operators are less common

• For example, XOR uses only one or the other, but not both

AND

• AND is used to narrow down searches.

• Results contain all of the used search terms.

OR

• OR is used to enhance search terms by connecting two terms-usually synonyms or closely related terms.

• Results contain either of the used search terms.

NOT

• NOT is used to refine search results by eliminating specific variations.

• Results do not include excluded unwanted information.

XOR

• XOR is used to limit search results by narrowing the search criteria.

• Results will include information with one of the terms or the other, but not both.

Quotation Marks

• Used around a phrase that needs to be returned in that exact order

Combinations

• Terms may be used together.

• What would be the results of this search?

Multiple Choice

What would be the results of this search?

Italy NOT (Politics OR Sports)

• All information about Italy.

• Information about politics or sports in all countries other than Italy.

• Information about Italy, excluding politics and sports.

• Information about Italy and sports, but not politics.

Combinations

• OR terms should be joined by parentheses so the terms are combined first, just like math.

• What would be the results of this search?

Multiple Choice

What would be the results of this search?

(wind power OR alternative energy OR solar power) AND global warming

• Information about global warming that must also include at least one of the phrases in parentheses

• Information about global warming that cannot include any of the phrases in parentheses

• Information about global warming that includes all of the phrases in parentheses

• Information about global warming or about any of the phrases in parentheses

Combinations

• Another example of multiple operators

• What would be the results of this search?

Multiple Choice

What would be the result of this search?

(Man OR Men) AND Fitness

• Anything having to do with fitness.

• Articles about an individual man or men, and articles about fitness.

• Articles about fitness that are specifically related to a man or men.

• Articles about fitness for either a man or for men, but not both.

Combinations

• What about three?

• What would be the results of this search?

Multiple Choice

What would be the result of this search?

(Man OR Men) AND (Fitness NOT Yoga)

• Articles about a man's or men's fitness, not including articles that include yoga.

• Articles about an individual man or men, and articles about fitness.

• Articles about men, excluding articles about fitness and yoga.

• Articles about fitness for either a man or for men, and articles about yoga.

Other Fun Facts

• The next several slides include questions about Boolean operators.

• Ready?

• Use "quotation marks," to return results with only that exact phrase

• You may use the - sign in place of NOT

• You may use the + sign in place of AND, but AND will be assumed by search engines if you don't include the word or the sign.

Multiple Choice

The search "Elon Musk" would search for exactly that phrase because of the quotation marks.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A phrase inside (parentheses) functions as one unit. Any operator applies to the unit as a whole--just like math.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is the Google equivalent for OR?

• or

• -

• =

• +

Multiple Choice

What is the Google equivalent for NOT?

• +

• ~

• -

• =

Multiple Choice

Using the Boolean Operator NOT will narrow your research and limit your number of hits.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Using the Boolean Operator AND will broaden your results and produce more hits.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Using the Boolean Operator OR in a search will broaden your results and produce more hits.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The following search would exclude results with pick-up trucks: CARS OR TRUCKS

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The following search would include results with cats in them: CATS AND DOGS.

• True

• False