Definition:Logical NOR
Definition
NOR (that is, not or), is a binary connective, written symbolically as $p \downarrow q$, whose behaviour is as follows:
- $p \downarrow q$
is defined as:
- neither $p$ nor $q$ is true.
$p \downarrow q$ is voiced:
- $p$ nor $q$
The symbol $\downarrow$ is known as the Quine arrow, named after Willard Van Orman Quine.
Truth Function
The NOR connective defines the truth function $f^\downarrow$ as follows:
\(\ds \map {f^\downarrow} {\F, \F}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \T\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \map {f^\downarrow} {\F, \T}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \F\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \map {f^\downarrow} {\T, \F}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \F\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \map {f^\downarrow} {\T, \T}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \F\) |
Truth Table
The characteristic truth table of the logical NOR operator $p \downarrow q$ is as follows:
- $\begin {array} {|cc||c|} \hline p & q & p \downarrow q \\ \hline \F & \F & \T \\ \F & \T & \F \\ \T & \F & \F \\ \T & \T & \F \\ \hline \end {array}$
Boolean Interpretation
The truth value of $\mathbf A \downarrow \mathbf B$ under a boolean interpretation $v$ is given by:
- $\map v {\mathbf A \downarrow \mathbf B} = \begin {cases} \T & : \map v {\mathbf A} = \map v {\mathbf B} = \F \\ \F & : \text {otherwise} \end {cases}$
Notational Variants
Various symbols are encountered that denote the concept of logical NOR:
Symbol | Origin | Known as |
---|---|---|
$p \downarrow q$ | Willard Quine | Quine arrow |
$p \mathop {\mathsf {NOR} } q$ | ||
$p \mathop \bot q$ | ||
$p \curlywedge q$ | Charles Sanders Peirce | Ampheck |
The all-uppercase rendition NOR originates from the digital electronics industry, where, because NOR is Functionally Complete, this operator has a high importance.
Also see
- Results about logical NOR can be found here.
Sources
- 1965: E.J. Lemmon: Beginning Logic ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $2$: The Propositional Calculus $2$: $3$ Truth-Tables: Exercise $2 \ \text{(ii)}$
- 1972: A.G. Howson: A Handbook of Terms used in Algebra and Analysis ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 1$: Some mathematical language: Connectives
- 1980: D.J. O'Connor and Betty Powell: Elementary Logic ... (previous) ... (next): $\S \text{I}: 12$: Material Equivalence and Alternation
- 1993: M. Ben-Ari: Mathematical Logic for Computer Science ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $2$: Propositional Calculus: $\S 2.1$: Boolean operators