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Discover the power of Boolean operators in enhancing your Internet searches. Learn how to effectively use "AND," "OR," and "NOT" to refine your search results. This guide explains the origins of these operators, based on George Boole's groundbreaking work in mathematics, and provides practical examples to illustrate how each operator can change your search outcomes. With hands-on exercises, including Venn diagrams and comparisons of search results, you’ll gain essential skills for smarter searching online.
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Smarter Internet Searching Boolean Operators
What are Boolean operators? • The terms “AND, OR, & NOT” when used in Internet searches are called Boolean operators
Why do we call them “Boolean?” • George Boole was an English mathematician who lived from 1815-1864 • He invented a branch of mathematics called Boolean algebra • His theories formed the basis for using Boolean operators in Internet searches
How do you use Boolean operators? • Using AND: Using AND narows a search by combining terms; it will bring back documents that use both the search terms you put in, for example: Portland AND Oregon
Using OR Using OR broadens a search to include results that contain either of the words you type in. OR is a good tool to use when there are several common spellings or synonyms of a word, for example Theatre OR theater
Using NOT Using Not will narrow a search by keeping out certain search terms. NOT brings back documents that contain one, but not the other,of the search terms you enter, for example: Jazz NOT Music
Here’s another way to think about it: Search results are shown in green
Using NOT Diagrams from http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/databases/search/booleansearch.html
Mini Quiz • Which will get you the MOST results: • AND • OR • NOT Answer: B. OR
Let’s practice together: • Now let’s try it on the Internet with Google:
Smarter Searching • List 5 topics you want to know more about. • List three key words that could be used to find information about each topic. EX. Swimmers, Olympic Swimmers, World Record Swimmers, Women Swimmers, etc.
Using AND • Choose one of your topics, What can you add to your search to get better results? • Try a one word search, then try adding AND and a second word. • Draw a Venn diagram showing your results. Label the circles and give a specific example of one of your search results.
Using OR • Now do the same search using the OR operator between your two keywords. • Describe what happened. • Draw a Venn Diagram showing the results.
Using NOT • Search Google for ‘jaguar’, ‘mustang’ or ‘explorer’. What are your results? • Now search these terms adding ‘NOT cars’. What is the difference?
Shortcuts • Not all search engines use Boolean operators in the same way • You can use shortcuts in Google: • + for AND • - for NOT