Sum of Products form, or
SOP form, is a way of
writing logic equations. In this form, the equation consists of multiple
terms, each of which are
OR'd together. Each term, then, only consists of a number of
variables which are all
AND'd together. This is called "sum of products", because traditionally,
OR is represented by the "+" sign, and
AND is represented by "·". Here is an
example:
_ _ _ _ _ _
F = (A · B · C) + (A · B · C) + (A · B · C)
Each term is within parenthesis here, and has all of it's
variables
AND'd together, and each of the terms are then
OR'd. This particular equation also happens to be in
canonical form.
See also Product of Sums.