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Odd parity of three inputs: A XOR B XOR C

Odd parity, A XOR B XOR C, is true when an odd number of inputs are true. The eight-row table, the four-term normal forms and a Karnaugh map with no adjacent ones show why XOR chains resist simplification.

A parity bit protects a message: the sender sets it so that the total number of ones is odd, and the receiver recomputes it. With three inputs the function is the chained XOR, and the engine's reading states the rule plainly: odd_parity is true exactly when an odd number of A, B and C are true, one or three of them. The truth table has eight rows and the output is true on four, Σm(1, 2, 4, 7), the rows with one true input and the row with all three.

The exact checks find no surprises: not a tautology, counterexample A = FALSE, B = FALSE, C = FALSE; satisfiable, witness A = FALSE, B = FALSE, C = TRUE. The simplifier found no law that shortens the two-operator expression. The normal-form converter, using XOR elimination twice and distribution twice, produces a DNF of four three-literal terms and a CNF of four three-literal clauses, twelve literals each. The Karnaugh map draws four groups of one cell each, cells 1, 2, 4 and 7, and reports four prime implicants; no two ones share an edge, so no cell can be merged. The gate counts follow: 20 NAND gates, 41 NOR gates.

Parity appears in memory error detection, in serial protocols and in checksums, and in software as the oddness of a count of flags. The thing to watch is the name: a three-input XOR is parity, not exactly one, and the two differ when all three inputs are true. The exactly-one page shows that row. Because every term in the DNF mentions every variable, a parity function is also the standard example of a function that Karnaugh maps cannot shorten, which is worth knowing before spending time on the map.

odd_parity := 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

Truth table (8 rows)

Odd parity of three inputs: A XOR B XOR C
#ABCodd_parity
0FALSEFALSEFALSEFALSE
1FALSEFALSETRUETRUE
2FALSETRUEFALSETRUE
3FALSETRUETRUEFALSE
4TRUEFALSEFALSETRUE
5TRUEFALSETRUEFALSE
6TRUETRUEFALSEFALSE
7TRUETRUETRUETRUE

Plain-language reading

Beginnerodd_parity is true exactly when an odd number of A, B, and C are true (1 or 3 of them).
In every other case, odd_parity is false.
About the operators:
- A chain of XORs is true when an odd number of its parts are true. With three parts, all three being true also counts: it does not mean “exactly one”.
Intermediateodd_parity is true exactly when an odd number of A, B, and C are true (1 or 3 of them).
In every other case, odd_parity is false.
Advancedodd_parity is true exactly when an odd number of A, B, and C are true (1 or 3 of them) [parity: n-ary exclusive disjunction ⊕].
In every other case, odd_parity is false.
Formal notation: A ⊕ B ⊕ C

Logic diagram

Odd parity of three inputs: A XOR B XOR C Odd parity of three inputs: A XOR B XOR C A B C odd_parity XOR
Odd parity of three inputs: A XOR B XOR C Odd parity of three inputs: A XOR B XOR C A B C odd_parity 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 XOR B XOR C

Karnaugh map

A \ BC
00
01
11
10
0
0m0
1m1
0m3
1m2
1
1m4
0m5
1m7
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
  4. cells m7A AND B AND C
(NOT A AND NOT B AND C) OR (NOT A AND B AND NOT C) OR (A AND NOT B AND NOT C) OR (A AND B AND 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) OR (A AND B AND C). Exactly equivalent on every assignment.

Minterms and maxterms

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

Variable order: A, B, C · 8 rows

Normal forms

Conjunctive normal form (CNF)

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

4 clauses, 12 literals · complete · XOR elimination ×2, Distribution ×2

Disjunctive normal form (DNF)

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

4 terms, 12 literals · complete · XOR elimination ×2, Distribution ×2

NAND-only and NOR-only

NAND-only form

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

20 gates · verified equivalent on every row

NOR-only form

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

41 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: 7875b852c61b8ea8b990b3327315b496608f22bf11c48c8fa0e14b6391c0ecf9
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:
    'odd_parity' -> output_odd_parity(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})
    # -> {'odd_parity': False}
    model.output_odd_parity({'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_odd_parity",
]

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": "7875b852c61b8ea8b990b3327315b496608f22bf11c48c8fa0e14b6391c0ecf9",
    "assumptions_digest": "d58ee1ad38e23e5093e4baa1047b5ae70d6972e08f555e34ac3fa16df63c4a78",
    "primary_output": "odd_parity",
    "unused_inputs": (),
    "subcircuits": (),
}

# Stable ID -> generated identifier (reversible mapping; names are exact, escaped strings).
IDENTIFIER_MAP = {
    "v_1e593d4093c7": {"kind": "input", "name": "A", "identifier": "input_A"},
    "v_3c7b7802ca65": {"kind": "input", "name": "B", "identifier": "input_B"},
    "v_b5fa346da697": {"kind": "input", "name": "C", "identifier": "input_C"},
    "f_b09a68d3f674": {"kind": "output", "name": "odd_parity", "identifier": "output_odd_parity"},
}

INPUT_NAMES = ("A", "B", "C")
OUTPUT_NAMES = ("odd_parity",)
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_odd_parity(input_A: bool, input_B: bool, input_C: bool) -> bool:
    """Decision output 'odd_parity': A XOR B XOR C"""
    return (input_A != input_B) != input_C


# ---- Public API ----


def output_odd_parity(inputs: Mapping[str, bool], *, check_scope: bool = True) -> bool:
    """Decision output 'odd_parity' (stable ID f_b09a68d3f674).

    'odd_parity' := 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_odd_parity_value = _compute_output_odd_parity(values["A"], values["B"], values["C"])
    return output_odd_parity_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_odd_parity_value = _compute_output_odd_parity(values["A"], values["B"], values["C"])
    return {
        "odd_parity": output_odd_parity_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: 7875b852c61b8ea8b990b3327315b496608f22bf11c48c8fa0e14b6391c0ecf9
-- 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_1e593d4093c7: A -> "in_A"
--   v_3c7b7802ca65: B -> "in_B"
--   v_b5fa346da697: C -> "in_C"
-- Output columns:
--   f_b09a68d3f674: odd_parity -> "out_odd_parity"
-- 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_odd_parity] output odd_parity (stable ID f_b09a68d3f674)
--   odd_parity := 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" <> "in_B") <> "in_C") END AS "out_odd_parity"
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: 7875b852c61b8ea8b990b3327315b496608f22bf11c48c8fa0e14b6391c0ecf9
; 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_1e593d4093c7: A -> in_A
;   v_3c7b7802ca65: B -> in_B
;   v_b5fa346da697: C -> in_C
;   f_b09a68d3f674: odd_parity -> out_odd_parity

(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 odd_parity (stable ID f_b09a68d3f674): A XOR B XOR C
(define-fun out_odd_parity () 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
odd_parity = A \oplus B \oplus C

The common slip

Reading A XOR B XOR C as “exactly one of the three”. The table says otherwise on its last row: with A = TRUE, B = TRUE, C = TRUE the chain is true, because three is odd. A formula for exactly one needs the AND-OR form on the companion page.

Questions

Why does the map have four separate groups?

The true cells are 1, 2, 4 and 7, and each of them differs from every other true cell in at least two variables, so none are adjacent on the map. Each cell is its own prime implicant, and the derived expression is the four-term sum of minterms.

Does the grouping of the XORs matter?

No. XOR is associative and commutative, so A XOR (B XOR C) and (A XOR B) XOR C give the same column. The full-adder sum page uses the same function with the carry-in as the third input.

Related

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.