Using XOR as a controlled inverter: An exclusive-OR gate will invert the signal on one input if the other input is held permanently HIGH. Is this behavior correct?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Correct

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The exclusive-OR (XOR) gate is a versatile building block. One practical use is as a conditional inverter: by tying one input to a control level, the XOR either passes the signal through unchanged or inverts it. This capability appears frequently in digital signal conditioning and simple arithmetic circuits.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Two-input XOR gate under positive logic.
  • One input is held at logic HIGH (1).
  • The other input is the signal of interest.


Concept / Approach:
The XOR truth rule is A XOR B = 1 when A ≠ B and 0 when A = B. If one input is fixed at 1, the output becomes the logical NOT of the other input because output is 1 exactly when the other input is 0, and 0 when it is 1. Thus, tying an XOR input high converts the gate into an inverter for the remaining input.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Let control input C = 1; signal input S varies.Compute output: Y = S XOR C.With C = 1, Y = NOT S (since XOR with 1 inverts).Therefore, the XOR acts as a controlled inverter.


Verification / Alternative check:
Similarly, if the control input C = 0, XOR passes the signal through (Y = S). This dual behavior allows simple “invert enable” functions in designs without adding a separate NOT gate.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Incorrect/conditional options: The XOR identity holds across logic families and frequencies within normal operating limits; it is a fundamental truth-table property, not a timing artifact.


Common Pitfalls:
Confusing XOR with OR (where tying one input HIGH forces constant HIGH); forgetting that XOR with 1 toggles, with 0 passes-through.


Final Answer:
Correct

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