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Exactly one of three: why XOR is the wrong tool

The three-term formula for “exactly one of A, B, C” compared with the tempting A XOR B XOR C. The equivalence check fails on one row, the all-true one, and the page shows the normal forms and gate counts of the correct formula.

The correct formula spells out the three cases: (A AND NOT B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND NOT B AND C). Each term says one input is true and the other two are false, and the engine's reading repeats that list. The XOR chain is shorter and looks like it should mean the same thing. On the eight-row table the correct formula is true on three rows, Σm(1, 2, 4); the XOR chain is true on four.

The equivalence check is violated with the counterexample A = TRUE, B = TRUE, C = TRUE: exactly-one is false there and the XOR chain is true. That is the only differing row, row 7. The simplifier found no law that shortens the fourteen operators, but the CNF converter finds a shorter form, (A OR B OR C) AND (NOT A OR NOT B) AND (NOT A OR NOT C) AND (NOT B OR NOT C), four clauses and nine literals; the DNF is the original three terms. The Karnaugh map draws three single-cell groups, cells 1, 2 and 4, three prime implicants. Gate counts: 40 NAND, 67 NOR.

Exactly-one constraints are everywhere: one selected radio button, one active payment method, one primary address. The CNF form is the one worth remembering, because it reads as a requirement: at least one is chosen, and no two are chosen together. In a form validator or a configuration checker those are the two tests to write. In the engine, EXACTLY(1; A, B, C) says it in one gate and expands to the same three terms. Both the exclusive-payment page and the at-most-one page reuse this shape, and the parity page shows what the XOR chain actually computes.

exactly_one := (A AND NOT B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND NOT B AND C) · outputxor_chain := A XOR B XOR C · output

Exact checks

Always true (tautology)? No Counterexample: A = F, B = F, C = F · Exhaustively checked and solver cross-checked · 1 rows
Always false (contradiction)? No Counterexample: A = F, B = F, C = T · Exhaustively checked and solver cross-checked · 2 rows
Can be true? Yes Example assignment: A = F, B = F, C = T · Exhaustively checked and solver cross-checked · 2 rows
Are exactly_one and xor_chain equivalent? No Counterexample: A = T, B = T, C = T · Exhaustively checked and solver cross-checked · 8 rows

Truth table (8 rows)

Exactly one of three: why XOR is the wrong tool
#ABCexactly_onexor_chain
0FALSEFALSEFALSEFALSEFALSE
1FALSEFALSETRUETRUETRUE
2FALSETRUEFALSETRUETRUE
3FALSETRUETRUEFALSEFALSE
4TRUEFALSEFALSETRUETRUE
5TRUEFALSETRUEFALSEFALSE
6TRUETRUEFALSEFALSEFALSE
7TRUETRUETRUEFALSETRUE

Plain-language reading

Beginnerexactly_one is true exactly when at least one of the following holds (several may hold):
1. A is true, B is false, and C is false
2. A is false, B is true, and C is false
3. A is false, B is false, and C is true
In every other case, exactly_one is false.
About the operators:
- OR is inclusive: it is true when at least one part is true, including when several are.
- AND is true only when all of its parts are true.
- NOT reverses a value: true becomes false and false becomes true.
Intermediateexactly_one is true exactly when at least one of the following holds (several may hold):
1. A is true, B is false, and C is false
2. A is false, B is true, and C is false
3. A is false, B is false, and C is true
In every other case, exactly_one is false.
Advancedexactly_one is true exactly when at least one of the following holds (several may hold) [inclusive disjunction ∨]:
1. A is true, B is false, and C is false [conjunction ∧]
2. A is false, B is true, and C is false [conjunction ∧]
3. A is false, B is false, and C is true [conjunction ∧]
In every other case, exactly_one is false.
Formal notation: (A ∧ ¬B ∧ ¬C) ∨ (¬A ∧ B ∧ ¬C) ∨ (¬A ∧ ¬B ∧ C)

Logic diagram

Exactly one of three: why XOR is the wrong tool Exactly one of three: why XOR is the wrong tool A B C exactly_onePRIMARY xor_chain OR AND NOT NOT AND NOT NOT AND NOT NOT XOR
Exactly one of three: why XOR is the wrong tool Exactly one of three: why XOR is the wrong tool A B C exactly_onePRIMARY xor_chain OR AND NOT NOT AND NOT NOT AND NOT NOT XOR

Simplification, step by step

The engine found no law that shortens this expression; it is already as short as its rewriting laws can make it.

(A AND NOT B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND NOT B AND C)

Karnaugh map

A \ BC
00
01
11
10
0
0m0
1m1
0m3
1m2
1
1m4
0m5
0m7
0m6
  1. cells m1NOT A AND NOT B AND C
  2. cells m2NOT A AND B AND NOT C
  3. cells m4A AND NOT B AND NOT C
(NOT A AND NOT B AND C) OR (NOT A AND B AND NOT C) OR (A AND NOT B AND NOT C) · Derived (NOT A AND NOT B AND C) OR (NOT A AND B AND NOT C) OR (A AND NOT B AND NOT C). Exactly equivalent on every assignment.

Minterms and maxterms

exactly_one(A, B, C) = Σm(1, 2, 4)exactly_one(A, B, C) = ΠM(0, 3, 5, 6, 7)

Variable order: A, B, C · 8 rows

Normal forms

Conjunctive normal form (CNF)

(A OR B OR C) AND (NOT A OR NOT B) AND (NOT A OR NOT C) AND (NOT B OR NOT C)

4 clauses, 9 literals · complete · Distribution ×2, Complement ×5, Absorption ×5, Idempotence ×1

Disjunctive normal form (DNF)

(A AND NOT B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND NOT B AND C)

3 terms, 9 literals · complete

NAND-only and NOR-only

NAND-only form

NAND(NAND(NAND(NAND(NAND(NAND(A, NAND(B, B)), NAND(A, NAND(B, B))), NAND(C, C)), NAND(NAND(NAND(NAND(A, A), B), NAND(NAND(A, A), B)), NAND(C, C))), NAND(NAND(NAND(NAND(A, NAND(B, B)), NAND(A, NAND(B, B))), NAND(C, C)), NAND(NAND(NAND(NAND(A, A), B), NAND(NAND(A, A), B)), NAND(C, C)))), NAND(NAND(NAND(NAND(A, A), NAND(B, B)), NAND(NAND(A, A), NAND(B, B))), C))

40 gates · verified equivalent on every row

NOR-only form

NOR(NOR(NOR(NOR(NOR(NOR(NOR(NOR(A, A), B), NOR(NOR(A, A), B)), C), NOR(NOR(NOR(A, NOR(B, B)), NOR(A, NOR(B, B))), C)), NOR(NOR(NOR(NOR(NOR(A, A), B), NOR(NOR(A, A), B)), C), NOR(NOR(NOR(A, NOR(B, B)), NOR(A, NOR(B, B))), C))), NOR(NOR(NOR(A, B), NOR(A, B)), NOR(C, C))), NOR(NOR(NOR(NOR(NOR(NOR(NOR(A, A), B), NOR(NOR(A, A), B)), C), NOR(NOR(NOR(A, NOR(B, B)), NOR(A, NOR(B, B))), C)), NOR(NOR(NOR(NOR(NOR(A, A), B), NOR(NOR(A, A), B)), C), NOR(NOR(NOR(A, NOR(B, B)), NOR(A, NOR(B, B))), C))), NOR(NOR(NOR(A, B), NOR(A, B)), NOR(C, C))))

67 gates · verified equivalent on every row

The same rule as code

Python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
# Generated by Tangibool (tangibool.python/1). Do not edit by hand; regenerate from the source revision.
# Model: not stated
# Source revision: reference
# Interpretation status: not stated
"""Tangibool evaluator (decision model).

Generated deterministically from the validated Boolean model; it evaluates exactly that
model. It does not establish that the model is a complete, legal, or safe statement of a
real-world rule, and evaluating examples does not verify the rule.

Source revision: reference
Interpretation status: not stated
Exporter: 1.0.0 (format tangibool.python/1; engine 1.0.0; semantics tangibool-semantics/1)
Logic digest: 07725e0e56bd8cfa2a5ea1a692ece26002c64bc83895a4a442bc5c117d1e01b8
Assumptions digest: d58ee1ad38e23e5093e4baa1047b5ae70d6972e08f555e34ac3fa16df63c4a78

Inputs (dict keys, declared order) and generated parameter names:
    'A' -> input_A
    'B' -> input_B
    'C' -> input_C

Outputs (declared order) and their functions:
    'exactly_one' -> output_exactly_one(inputs)
    'xor_chain' -> output_xor_chain(inputs)

Assumptions (the declared scope, checked by in_scope(inputs)):
    none; every complete assignment is in scope.

Input contract:
    Every required input must be exactly True or False (type(value) is bool). Missing
    inputs, None, strings, integers (including 0 and 1), and keys that are not declared
    inputs raise InputError before anything is evaluated, including inputs that a
    short-circuiting operator would never read. Results are always bool.

Scope:
    Decision functions raise OutOfScopeError when the inputs violate an assumption; an
    out-of-scope assignment is never turned into a False result. Pass check_scope=False
    to evaluate without the scope check, and use in_scope(inputs) to test it separately.

Usage:

    import tangibool_model as model

    model.evaluate({'A': False, 'B': False, 'C': False})
    # -> {'exactly_one': False, 'xor_chain': False}
    model.output_exactly_one({'A': False, 'B': False, 'C': False})
    # -> False
    model.evaluate({'A': 1, 'B': False, 'C': False})
    # raises InputError: 1 is an int, not a bool
"""

import collections.abc as _abc
from typing import Dict, Mapping, Tuple

__all__ = [
    "MODEL_INFO",
    "IDENTIFIER_MAP",
    "INPUT_NAMES",
    "OUTPUT_NAMES",
    "ASSUMPTIONS",
    "InputError",
    "OutOfScopeError",
    "minterm_index",
    "in_scope",
    "evaluate",
    "output_exactly_one",
    "output_xor_chain",
]

MODEL_INFO = {
    "format": "tangibool.python/1",
    "mode": "decision",
    "model": None,
    "revision": "reference",
    "interpretation": None,
    "exporter": "1.0.0",
    "engine_version": "1.0.0",
    "semantics_version": "tangibool-semantics/1",
    "logic_digest": "07725e0e56bd8cfa2a5ea1a692ece26002c64bc83895a4a442bc5c117d1e01b8",
    "assumptions_digest": "d58ee1ad38e23e5093e4baa1047b5ae70d6972e08f555e34ac3fa16df63c4a78",
    "primary_output": "exactly_one",
    "unused_inputs": (),
    "subcircuits": (),
}

# Stable ID -> generated identifier (reversible mapping; names are exact, escaped strings).
IDENTIFIER_MAP = {
    "v_b0805332931c": {"kind": "input", "name": "A", "identifier": "input_A"},
    "v_b81404ddbc06": {"kind": "input", "name": "B", "identifier": "input_B"},
    "v_8351176a46f2": {"kind": "input", "name": "C", "identifier": "input_C"},
    "f_10c6e8428d84": {"kind": "output", "name": "exactly_one", "identifier": "output_exactly_one"},
    "f_8c3ca0be65e8": {"kind": "output", "name": "xor_chain", "identifier": "output_xor_chain"},
}

INPUT_NAMES = ("A", "B", "C")
OUTPUT_NAMES = ("exactly_one", "xor_chain")
ASSUMPTIONS = ()

_DECLARED_INPUTS = frozenset(INPUT_NAMES)
_SCOPE_INPUTS = ()
_ASSUMPTION_FORMULAS = {entry["name"]: entry["formula"] for entry in ASSUMPTIONS}


class InputError(ValueError):
    """Raised when inputs are missing, undeclared, or not exactly True/False.

    Every required input must satisfy type(value) is bool. Missing inputs, None, strings,
    integers (including 0 and 1), and keys that are not declared inputs are rejected before
    anything is evaluated. A missing input is never treated as False. The individual problems
    are listed in the problems attribute.
    """

    def __init__(self, problems):
        self.problems = tuple(problems)
        super().__init__("Invalid inputs: " + "; ".join(self.problems))


class OutOfScopeError(ValueError):
    """Raised when the inputs violate the model's assumptions (its declared scope).

    Outside its assumptions the rule has no decision: this error is never a False result.
    The names of the violated assumptions are in the violated attribute.
    """

    def __init__(self, violated):
        self.violated = tuple(violated)
        details = ", ".join(name + " (" + _ASSUMPTION_FORMULAS.get(name, "?") + ")" for name in self.violated)
        super().__init__(
            "Out of scope: the inputs violate "
            + ("assumption " if len(self.violated) == 1 else "assumptions ")
            + details
            + ". The rule has no decision outside its assumptions; this is not a False result."
        )


def _short_repr(value: object) -> str:
    text = repr(value)
    return text if len(text) <= 60 else text[:57] + "..."


def _checked_inputs(inputs: Mapping[str, bool], required: Tuple[str, ...], check_scope: bool) -> Dict[str, bool]:
    """Validate inputs strictly before anything is evaluated and return a plain copy."""
    if type(check_scope) is not bool:
        raise TypeError("check_scope must be True or False")
    if not isinstance(inputs, _abc.Mapping):
        raise InputError(["inputs must be a mapping from input names to True/False, got " + type(inputs).__name__])
    problems = []
    for key in inputs:
        if type(key) is not str or key not in _DECLARED_INPUTS:
            declared = ", ".join(repr(name) for name in INPUT_NAMES) or "none"
            problems.append("undeclared input " + _short_repr(key) + " (declared inputs: " + declared + ")")
    needed = tuple(required) + (_SCOPE_INPUTS if check_scope else ())
    for name in needed:
        if name not in inputs:
            problems.append("missing required input " + repr(name))
    for key, value in inputs.items():
        if type(key) is str and key in _DECLARED_INPUTS and type(value) is not bool:
            problems.append(
                "input " + repr(key) + " must be True or False (type bool), got "
                + type(value).__name__ + " " + _short_repr(value)
            )
    if problems:
        raise InputError(list(dict.fromkeys(problems)))
    return dict(inputs.items())


def _require_bool_args(function: str, pairs: Tuple[Tuple[str, object], ...]) -> None:
    problems = [
        "argument " + repr(name) + " of " + function + " must be True or False (type bool), got "
        + type(value).__name__ + " " + _short_repr(value)
        for name, value in pairs
        if type(value) is not bool
    ]
    if problems:
        raise InputError(problems)


def minterm_index(*values: bool) -> int:
    """Row index of an assignment over a declared variable order.

    The first value is the most significant bit, so all-False is row 0. Used for indexed
    minterm (sum) and maxterm (product) forms.
    """
    index = 0
    for value in values:
        if type(value) is not bool:
            raise InputError(["minterm_index() takes True/False values, got " + type(value).__name__ + " " + _short_repr(value)])
        index = index * 2 + (1 if value else 0)
    return index


def _scope_values(values: Dict[str, bool]) -> Tuple[Tuple[str, bool], ...]:
    """Value of every enabled, confirmed assumption for validated inputs, in declared order."""
    return ()


def _require_in_scope(values: Dict[str, bool]) -> None:
    violated = tuple(name for name, holds in _scope_values(values) if not holds)
    if violated:
        raise OutOfScopeError(violated)


def in_scope(inputs: Mapping[str, bool]) -> bool:
    """True when the inputs satisfy every assumption (the model's declared scope).

    Requires the inputs the assumptions read; raises InputError for invalid inputs.
    """
    values = _checked_inputs(inputs, (), True)
    return all(holds for _, holds in _scope_values(values))


# ---- Formula bodies (inputs are validated by the public functions below) ----


def _compute_output_exactly_one(input_A: bool, input_B: bool, input_C: bool) -> bool:
    """Decision output 'exactly_one': (A AND NOT B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND NOT B AND C)"""
    return (input_A and (not input_B) and (not input_C)) or ((not input_A) and input_B and (not input_C)) or ((not input_A) and (not input_B) and input_C)


def _compute_output_xor_chain(input_A: bool, input_B: bool, input_C: bool) -> bool:
    """Decision output 'xor_chain': A XOR B XOR C"""
    return (input_A != input_B) != input_C


# ---- Public API ----


def output_exactly_one(inputs: Mapping[str, bool], *, check_scope: bool = True) -> bool:
    """Decision output 'exactly_one' (stable ID f_10c6e8428d84).

    'exactly_one' := (A AND NOT B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND NOT B AND C)

    Required inputs: 'A', 'B', 'C'.
    Raises InputError for missing, undeclared, or non-bool inputs, and OutOfScopeError
    when check_scope is True and the inputs violate an assumption.
    """
    values = _checked_inputs(inputs, ("A", "B", "C"), check_scope)
    if check_scope:
        _require_in_scope(values)
    output_exactly_one_value = _compute_output_exactly_one(values["A"], values["B"], values["C"])
    return output_exactly_one_value


def output_xor_chain(inputs: Mapping[str, bool], *, check_scope: bool = True) -> bool:
    """Decision output 'xor_chain' (stable ID f_8c3ca0be65e8).

    'xor_chain' := A XOR B XOR C

    Required inputs: 'A', 'B', 'C'.
    Raises InputError for missing, undeclared, or non-bool inputs, and OutOfScopeError
    when check_scope is True and the inputs violate an assumption.
    """
    values = _checked_inputs(inputs, ("A", "B", "C"), check_scope)
    if check_scope:
        _require_in_scope(values)
    output_xor_chain_value = _compute_output_xor_chain(values["A"], values["B"], values["C"])
    return output_xor_chain_value


def evaluate(inputs: Mapping[str, bool], *, check_scope: bool = True) -> Dict[str, bool]:
    """Evaluate every output (declared order); each output is computed once.

    Required inputs: 'A', 'B', 'C'.
    Raises InputError for missing, undeclared, or non-bool inputs, and OutOfScopeError
    when check_scope is True and the inputs violate an assumption.
    """
    values = _checked_inputs(inputs, ("A", "B", "C"), check_scope)
    if check_scope:
        _require_in_scope(values)
    output_exactly_one_value = _compute_output_exactly_one(values["A"], values["B"], values["C"])
    output_xor_chain_value = _compute_output_xor_chain(values["A"], values["B"], values["C"])
    return {
        "exactly_one": output_exactly_one_value,
        "xor_chain": output_xor_chain_value,
    }
PostgreSQL
-- Tangibool PostgreSQL export (tangibool.postgresql/1)
-- Target: PostgreSQL 16 or later with typed boolean inputs; tested with PostgreSQL 18.3 (PGlite 0.5.8).
-- Not a claim of compatibility with other SQL dialects.
-- Model: not stated
-- Source revision: reference
-- Interpretation status: not stated
-- Exporter: 1.0.0 (engine 1.0.0; semantics tangibool-semantics/1)
-- Logic digest: 07725e0e56bd8cfa2a5ea1a692ece26002c64bc83895a4a442bc5c117d1e01b8
-- Assumptions digest: d58ee1ad38e23e5093e4baa1047b5ae70d6972e08f555e34ac3fa16df63c4a78
-- Mode: decision
--
-- Read-only: this file contains only WITH / VALUES / SELECT statements. No DDL, DML,
-- procedures, credentials, network access, or database changes. The expressions are pure
-- Boolean expressions, so their result does not depend on SQL evaluation order.
--
-- NON-NULL INPUT PRECONDITION: NULL is not a truth value of this rule. Every fragment below
-- is defined only when every input column it reads is a non-NULL boolean. The guard template
-- (section 2) marks any NULL input as 'invalid_input' and any row that violates the
-- assumptions as 'out_of_scope', and fills output columns only for 'ok' rows; a NULL in an
-- output column of another row is an envelope marker, not a third truth value. Never wrap
-- the fragments in COALESCE(..., FALSE) or otherwise choose a meaning for unknown inputs.
-- This evaluates the supplied model; it does not show that the model is a complete, legal,
-- or safe statement of a real-world rule.
--
-- Input columns (stable ID: name -> column):
--   v_b0805332931c: A -> "in_A"
--   v_b81404ddbc06: B -> "in_B"
--   v_8351176a46f2: C -> "in_C"
-- Output columns:
--   f_10c6e8428d84: exactly_one -> "out_exactly_one"
--   f_8c3ca0be65e8: xor_chain -> "out_xor_chain"
-- Assumptions (scope K; exported separately and never folded into an output):
--   none; every complete input row is in scope.

-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- 1. Expression fragments (parenthesised; non-NULL boolean inputs required)
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
-- [out_exactly_one] output exactly_one (stable ID f_10c6e8428d84)
--   exactly_one := (A AND NOT B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND NOT B AND C)
--   PRECONDITION: "in_A", "in_B", "in_C" are non-NULL booleans.
--   (("in_A" AND (NOT "in_B") AND (NOT "in_C")) OR ((NOT "in_A") AND "in_B" AND (NOT "in_C")) OR ((NOT "in_A") AND (NOT "in_B") AND "in_C"))
--
-- [out_xor_chain] output xor_chain (stable ID f_8c3ca0be65e8)
--   xor_chain := A XOR B XOR C
--   PRECONDITION: "in_A", "in_B", "in_C" are non-NULL booleans.
--   (("in_A" <> "in_B") <> "in_C")
--

-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- 2. Guard template (read-only SELECT over an inputs list)
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Replace the example rows between the markers with your own rows, or replace the inputs
-- CTE with a SELECT that provides the boolean columns listed in the header. status is
-- 'invalid_input' when any input is NULL, 'out_of_scope' when the assumptions are false, and
-- 'ok' otherwise; output columns are filled only for 'ok' rows (NULL elsewhere is an
-- envelope marker). Assumption columns are shown for rows with complete inputs.
WITH inputs ("row_id", "in_A", "in_B", "in_C") AS (
  -- tangibool:example-rows:begin
  VALUES
    (1, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE),
    (2, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE),
    (3, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE),
    (4, FALSE, TRUE, TRUE),
    (5, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE),
    (6, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE),
    (7, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE),
    (8, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE),
    (9, NULL::boolean, FALSE, FALSE)
  -- tangibool:example-rows:end
),
checked AS (
  SELECT
    inputs.*,
    CASE
      WHEN "in_A" IS NULL OR "in_B" IS NULL OR "in_C" IS NULL THEN 'invalid_input'
      ELSE 'ok'
    END AS "status"
  FROM inputs
)
SELECT
  "row_id",
  "in_A",
  "in_B",
  "in_C",
  "status",
  CASE WHEN "status" = 'ok' THEN (("in_A" AND (NOT "in_B") AND (NOT "in_C")) OR ((NOT "in_A") AND "in_B" AND (NOT "in_C")) OR ((NOT "in_A") AND (NOT "in_B") AND "in_C")) END AS "out_exactly_one",
  CASE WHEN "status" = 'ok' THEN (("in_A" <> "in_B") <> "in_C") END AS "out_xor_chain"
FROM checked
ORDER BY "row_id";
SMT-LIB
; Tangibool SMT-LIB export (tangibool.smtlib/1)
; Profile: SMT-LIB 2.6 Boolean subset (QF_UF): Bool constants, define-fun, let, push/pop, assert, check-sat, echo.
; Tested with Z3 5.1.0 (z3-solver 5.2.0, WebAssembly build).
; Model: not stated
; Source revision: reference
; Interpretation status: not stated
; Exporter: 1.0.0 (engine 1.0.0; semantics tangibool-semantics/1)
; Logic digest: 07725e0e56bd8cfa2a5ea1a692ece26002c64bc83895a4a442bc5c117d1e01b8
; Assumptions digest: d58ee1ad38e23e5093e4baa1047b5ae70d6972e08f555e34ac3fa16df63c4a78
; Mode: decision
;
; Reading results: each query block states what sat and unsat mean for its question. A sat
; answer comes with a witness or counterexample (ask for it with (get-model) after sat only);
; unsat settles that scoped query and is solver-checked, not an independently checked proof
; certificate; unknown settles nothing. Blocks are scoped with push/pop, so assertions never
; accumulate across questions. This checks the supplied model, not whether it is a complete,
; legal, or safe statement of a real-world rule.
;
; Symbols (stable ID: name -> symbol):
;   v_b0805332931c: A -> in_A
;   v_b81404ddbc06: B -> in_B
;   v_8351176a46f2: C -> in_C
;   f_10c6e8428d84: exactly_one -> out_exactly_one
;   f_8c3ca0be65e8: xor_chain -> out_xor_chain

(set-option :produce-models true)
(set-info :smt-lib-version 2.6)
(set-logic QF_UF)

; ---- Inputs (declared order)
(declare-const in_A Bool) ; A
(declare-const in_B Bool) ; B
(declare-const in_C Bool) ; C

; ---- Outputs (dependencies first)
; output exactly_one (stable ID f_10c6e8428d84): (A AND NOT B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND B AND NOT C) OR (NOT A AND NOT B AND C)
(define-fun out_exactly_one () Bool (or (and in_A (not in_B) (not in_C)) (and (not in_A) in_B (not in_C)) (and (not in_A) (not in_B) in_C)))
; output xor_chain (stable ID f_8c3ca0be65e8): A XOR B XOR C
(define-fun out_xor_chain () Bool (xor (xor in_A in_B) in_C))

; ---- Assumptions (the scope K; never folded into an output)
; K: conjunction of the enabled, confirmed assumptions (true when there are none)
(define-fun K () Bool true)

; ---- Definitions only: nothing is asserted and no check is run.
; Add (assert ...) and (check-sat) inside (push 1) ... (pop 1) to ask a question.
LaTeX
exactly_one = \left(A \cdot \overline{B} \cdot \overline{C}\right) + \left(\overline{A} \cdot B \cdot \overline{C}\right) + \left(\overline{A} \cdot \overline{B} \cdot C\right)
xor_chain = A \oplus B \oplus C

The common slip

Using A XOR B XOR C for “exactly one”. It works for every input except the last row of the table, A = TRUE, B = TRUE, C = TRUE, where the chain is true. A test suite that never sets all three flags at once will not catch it; the exhaustive check does.

Questions

Is there a shorter formula for exactly one of three?

The CNF the converter derives, (A OR B OR C) AND (NOT A OR NOT B) AND (NOT A OR NOT C) AND (NOT B OR NOT C), has nine literals against the original's nine, but fewer operators. Whether it counts as shorter depends on what you count; the table proves both are the same function.

Related

Guides

Operators and gates

Tools

See also

Worked examples

Generated from the Tangibool engine, semantics tangibool-semantics/1, engine 1.0.0, build . Every table, map, simplification and verdict on these pages was computed by the Tangibool engine when the site was built, and every claim was re-checked by the same exact checker the app uses. Limits are stated where they apply. © 2026 Foreranger LTD.