Quin McCluskey Method

The Quin McCluskey method is based on exhaustive search. It is a two step method. In
the first step prime implicants are found by exhaustive search. In the second step,
minimal prime implicants are found.
A handout example of Quin McCluskey method havin minterms !, ", #, $, %, &, !!, !',
!", !(, !) is iven below*
Step1:
The table of minterm is iven below*
Minterms A B C D
! + + + !
" + + ! !
# + ! ! +
$ + ! ! !
% ! + + +
& ! + + !
!! ! + ! !
!' ! ! + +
!" ! ! + !
!( ! ! ! +
!) ! ! ! !
In the table iven bellow, the minterms are arraned in the roups of !, ', " and ( !s.
The first roup contains minterm ,! and %- havin one !s.
The second roup contains minterm ,", #, &, !'- havin two !s.
The third roup contains minterm ,$, !!, !", !(- havin three !s.
The fourth roup contains minterm ,!)- havin four !s.
Minterms A B C D
! + + + !
% ! + + +
" + + ! !
# + ! ! +
& ! + + !
!' ! ! + +
$ + ! ! !
!! ! + ! !
!" ! ! + !
!( ! ! ! +
!) ! ! ! !
.ach minterm in one roup is compared with minterm of other roup. The minterm ! in
the first roup is compared with each minterm in the second roup. /hen we compare !
with " then one variable will be removed which is C. /hen we compare ! with # then no
variable will be removed. The comparison of others minterm will continue in the same
manner. The minterms which have been used will be marked.
The exhaustive search for findin prime implicants has not completed. The three variable
terms in table !'.( are compared to eliminate another sinle variable. All terms that
combine to eliminate a variable are represented in table !'.).
The searchin will stop here as no more minterms can be compared.
The minterm marked as unused are prime implicants.
Step 2:
The cells are marked to determine the essential prime implicants and to simplify the
0oolean expression. The prime implicants found in the first step of Quin McCluskey
method are listed in left most column of prime implicant table whereas all minterms are
listed in the top row.
In the second step, all essential prime implicants are found. /e mark the cell which is
covered by only one prime implicant.
In handouts table !'.#, minterm ! has only one prime implicant 012 therefore we mark
this cell
The minterm # has only ! prime implicant 0C therefore we mark this cell.
The minterm % has only one prime implicant AC1 therefore we mark this cell.
If you notice then you can see that identified prime implicants 012, 0C and AC1 covers
all minterms. The prime implicants C2, A2 and 02 are redundant and are not re3uired.

The Simplified Expression is: BD ! BC ! AC