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Who invented Boolean logic and How

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by: miguelcarlos
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Date: Sun, 8 May 2011 Time: 7:14 PM

Boolean algebra or Boolean lattices are algebraic structures which are commonly used in mathematics and computer science. It captures the essence of the logical operations AND, OR and NOT as well as the set theoretic operations union intersection and complement. Expressions involving variables and the Boolean operations represent statement forms, and two such expressions can be shown to be equal using the axioms if an only if the corresponding statement forms are logically equivalent. Also, Boolean algebra was an attempt to use algebraic techniques to deal with expressions in the propositional calculus.

So, who invented Boolean logic? Boolean logic was invented by George Boole. He was an Englishman, born on November 2, 1815. His invention became the basis of modern digital computer logic. He is regarded in hindsight as a founder of the field of computer science.

Boole's History

George Boole, who invented Boolean logic, was at first interested in the Classics. He has learned Latin, Greek, German, Italian and French by his teens. With these languages, he was able to read a wide variety of Christian theology. His extraordinary talent in mathematical science and logic was first honed by his father, John Boole who was a tradesman of limited means. Despite the efforts, his talents did not manifest in his early life.

George Boole was mostly a self-taught mathematician, who rose to prominence due to his writings on differential equations and algebraic problems. He established a school at Lincoln after he was removed from Waddington and after his appointment as the first professor of mathematics of Queen's College, Cork in Ireland in 1849. It was not until this time that his mathematical skills were fully realized.

Boole's most important work was published on 1854, a year before he married Mary Everest. His most important work was entitled "An Investigation into the Laws of Thought, on Which are founded at the Mathematical Theories of Logic and Probabilities." In his work, he approached logic in a new way, reducing it to a simple algebra, incorporating logic into mathematics. He stressed on the analogy of algebraic symbols and those that represent logical forms. This was where the principle of Boolean algebra was derived from. This principle is now used in computer construction, switching circuits, etc.

Aside from this work, he also worked on differential equations, calculus of finite differences and general methods in probability. He published many papers about these topics and was one of the first to investigate the basic properties of numbers, such as distributive property, that underlie the subject of algebra. He was given many honors and awards as the genius in his work was recognized.

He then married Mary Everest on 1855 and was gifted with 5 daughters namely Mary Ellen, Margaret, Alicia, Lucy Everest and Ethel Lillian.

In 1864, George Boole, the man who invented Boolean logic, passed away due to Pneumonia which terminated his career.