XOR of three values

user_1868 0
Viewed 21332

What is the simplest way to do a three-way exclusive OR?

In other words, I have three values, and I want a statement that evaluates to true IFF only one of the three values is true.

So far, this is what I've come up with:

((a ^ b) && (a ^ c) && !(b && c)) || ((b ^ a) && (b ^ c) && !(a && c)) || ((c ^ a) && (c ^ b) && !(a && b))

Is there something simpler to do the same thing?

Here's the proof that the above accomplishes the task:

a = true; b = true; c = true
((a ^ b) && (a ^ c) && !(b && c)) || ((b ^ a) && (b ^ c) && !(a && c)) || ((c ^ a) && (c ^ b) && !(a && b))
=> false

a = true; b = true; c = false
((a ^ b) && (a ^ c) && !(b && c)) || ((b ^ a) && (b ^ c) && !(a && c)) || ((c ^ a) && (c ^ b) && !(a && b))
=> false

a = true; b = false; c = true
((a ^ b) && (a ^ c) && !(b && c)) || ((b ^ a) && (b ^ c) && !(a && c)) || ((c ^ a) && (c ^ b) && !(a && b))
=> false

a = true; b = false; c = false
((a ^ b) && (a ^ c) && !(b && c)) || ((b ^ a) && (b ^ c) && !(a && c)) || ((c ^ a) && (c ^ b) && !(a && b))
=> true

a = false; b = true; c = true
((a ^ b) && (a ^ c) && !(b && c)) || ((b ^ a) && (b ^ c) && !(a && c)) || ((c ^ a) && (c ^ b) && !(a && b))
=> false

a = false; b = true; c = false
((a ^ b) && (a ^ c) && !(b && c)) || ((b ^ a) && (b ^ c) && !(a && c)) || ((c ^ a) && (c ^ b) && !(a && b))
=> true

a = false; b = false; c = true
((a ^ b) && (a ^ c) && !(b && c)) || ((b ^ a) && (b ^ c) && !(a && c)) || ((c ^ a) && (c ^ b) && !(a && b))
=> true

a = false; b = false; c = false
((a ^ b) && (a ^ c) && !(b && c)) || ((b ^ a) && (b ^ c) && !(a && c)) || ((c ^ a) && (c ^ b) && !(a && b))
=> false
xor logic boolean-expression language-agnostic boolean
9 Answers

Better yet on Python:

result = (1 if a else 0)+(1 if b else 0)+(1 if c else 0) == 1

This can be used also on if statements!

It saved my day for CLI mutually exclusive arguments through Click (everyone hates click)

user_50299320

In C:

#include <stdbool.h>

bool array_xor(size_t array_size, bool[] array) {
    int count = 0;

    for (int i = 0; i < array_size && count < 2; i++) {
        if (array[i]) {
            count++;
        }
    }

    return count == 1;
}
user_99969110
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