# Prove using mathematical proof

• Sep 27th 2013, 08:28 AM
larry21
Prove using mathematical proof
Prove using mathematical proof:

$xyz + \overline{x}z = yz + \overline{x}z$

I can't figure how to begin with this. Help appreciated. thanks.
• Sep 27th 2013, 09:56 AM
larry21
Re: Prove using mathematical proof
Quote:

Originally Posted by larry21
Prove using mathematical proof:

$xyz + \overline{x}z = yz + \overline{x}z$

I can't figure how to begin with this. Help appreciated. thanks.

Prove using boolean postulates, laws, theorems. Can anyone help me? thanks.
• Sep 27th 2013, 11:14 AM
emakarov
Re: Prove using mathematical proof
$xy+\bar{x} = xy+\bar{x}(y+1) = xy+\bar{x}y+\bar{x} = (x+\bar{x})y+\bar{x} = y+\bar{x}$.
• Sep 27th 2013, 05:45 PM
larry21
Re: Prove using mathematical proof
Quote:

Originally Posted by emakarov
$xy+\bar{x} = xy+\bar{x}(y+1) = xy+\bar{x}y+\bar{x} = (x+\bar{x})y+\bar{x} = y+\bar{x}$.

Sorry, I don't quite follow what you just did. I need to prove that the left side: $xyz + \overline{x}z$ is equal to the right side: $yz + \overline{x}z$
• Sep 27th 2013, 07:23 PM
topsquark
Re: Prove using mathematical proof
Quote:

Originally Posted by emakarov
$xy+\bar{x} = xy+\bar{x}(y+1) = xy+\bar{x}y+\bar{x} = (x+\bar{x})y+\bar{x} = y+\bar{x}$.

Quote:

Originally Posted by larry21
Sorry, I don't quite follow what you just did. I need to prove that the left side: $xyz + \overline{x}z$ is equal to the right side: $yz + \overline{x}z$

Multiply both the LHS and RHS by z.

-Dan
• Sep 27th 2013, 09:12 PM
larry21
Re: Prove using mathematical proof
Very sorry for being unclear in my question and causing such confusion. But I only require to prove the LHS of the equation, thus by using the boolean postulates, laws, theorems to collapse the LHS to the RHS. I've studying this equation for so long and have yet been able to achieve such a task. A complete solution is not required, I just need a starting point to guide me in the right direction. Thank you in advance for your help.

Edit:
$xyz + \overline{x}z = yz + \overline{x}z$

z(xy + x') = distributive law (factor)
z(x' + x)(x' + y) = distributive law (expand)
z(1)(x' + y) = complement
z(x'+y) = (anything ANDed by 1 equals itself)
zx' + zy = distributive (expand)
yz + x'z = commutative

I believe I've finally figured it out. Anyone care to critique? Thank you.
• Sep 28th 2013, 06:41 AM
emakarov
Re: Prove using mathematical proof
As you can note, the key part of your solution is converting xy + x' to x' + y. The rest, i.e., multiplying by z and using distributivity, is trivial. The nontrivial part is what I showed in post #3. In fact, your transformation is shorter because you used distributivity of addition over multiplication, which allows changing xy + x' to (x' + x)(x' + y). So, good job!