From logic gates to arithmetic: the half adder
This animation shows how a half adder circuit uses an XOR gate to compute the sum bit and an AND gate to compute the carry bit for two single-bit inputs. As the inputs cycle through 00, 01, 10, and 11, the truth table fills in live, culminating in the case 1 + 1 = 10 in binary. Useful for students learning digital logic, binary arithmetic, or the hardware basis of computer arithmetic.
16:9 · Preview before teaching · automatic layout checks do not establish subject accuracy
The prompt that made it
An XOR gate gives the sum bit and an AND gate gives the carry for two input bits; the truth table fills in as the inputs cycle through 00, 01, 10, 11, showing 1 + 1 = 10 in binary.
Make the next one in this series
- Show how two half adders and an OR gate combine to form a full adder with carry-in
- Animate a 4-bit ripple carry adder adding two binary numbers step by step
- Explain how binary subtraction works using two's complement and an adder circuit
