The purpose of this blog post is to write a Python script that will interpret a Boolean expression and output its full Truth Table.
Boolean Expressions & Truth Tables
Before attempting this challenge, you should test your understanding of Boolean expressions, logic gates diagrams and truth tables by competing this online quiz:
Online QuizBoolean Expressions, Logic Gates Diagrams and Truth Tables
Python Bitwise Operators
To implement a Python script than can interpret a Boolean expression we will the following bitwise operators:
| Bitwise Operator | Example | Meaning |
| & | a & b | Bitwise AND |
| | | a | b | Bitwise OR |
| ^ | a ^ b | Bitwise XOR |
| ~ | ~a | Bitwise NOT |
Note that in Python, the following two bitwise operators can also be used to perform a bitwise left shift or right shift:
| Bitwise Operator | Example | Meaning |
| << | a << n | Bitwise left shift by n places |
| >> | a >> n | Bitwise right shift by n places |
Python Code (Solution)
Here is the Python code for our Truth Table Generator function truthTable() which takes two parameters:
- A Boolean expression: e.g. A AND NOT (B OR C)
- The number of inputs: either 2, 3 or 4: A, B, C and D
Your Task
Write an additional function to perform a bitwise left shift or a bitwise right shift using the bitwise operators << and >>.
Check that performing a left shift by n place(s) is equivalent to multiplying a number by 2n.
For instance 5 << 3 is the same as 5×23 = 40.
Check that performing a right shift by n place(s) is equivalent to dividing a number by 2n (whole division).
For instance 40 >> 3 is the same as 40/23 = 5.
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