CSCI 2150 -- Test 2 Study Guide

The table below lists the reading for each of the topics you will be responsible for on Test 2. See the 2150 tests section of this web site to view old tests and answer sheets.

Important! The old tests do not match exactly with the material for which you will be responsible.

Before Fall '04, standard boolean expression formats such as SOP, POS, and NAND-NAND logic were on Test 1, not Test 2.
Before Spring 2003, Karnaugh maps were on Test 1, not Test 2.
Do not worry about any questions on the old tests that refer to programmable logic arrays (PLAs). We also did not get to cover the types of memory, so that information will also not be on the test. For example, you will not see problems like 12-21 on the Spring 2002 test.
Basically, stick to the newer tests and you'll get a better flavor for what our test will be like.

If you are looking for more problems to challenge yourself with as you study, be sure to check out the problems located at the end of each chapter. Unfortunately, many of them are just like the ones from the old tests, so the old tests are still your best source for questions.

Topic	Reading	Other resources
Standard boolean expression formats	Chapter 6
Karnaugh maps	Chapter 7	Two web sites of interest are Rules of Simplification and Interactive Karnaugh. If you don't find them helpful, don't worry about it.
Digital Applications	Sections 8.1 and 8.2 from Chapter 8	Just make sure you understand the process of taking a digital design from concept to logic as I did in these sections. I'm not worried if you can design specifically the adder or seven-segment display driver.
Active low signals	Section 8.3 from Chapter 8	This is more to make sure you understand the term when I use it.
Decoders	Section 8.4 from Chapter 8	This is that section where you create an active low signal that goes low for exactly one condition on the inputs.
Multiplexers	Section 8.5 from Chapter 8	These little devices are used to select one signal to be routed to an input.
Latches/Memory cells	Chapter 10	Understand sections 10.1 through 10.5. Look over section 10.6 just to support your knowledge of latches. There won't be any questions specifically on that last sections.
State machines	Chapter 11	Once again, make sure you can take a state machine design from concept to logic. Also make sure you understand the architecture of the basic state machine.

Created by David Tarnoff for use by his sections of CSCI 2150.