A contribution to the algebra of relay and switch contacts

The paper is complementary to a paper by G.A. Montgomerie and it suggests that the method of algebraic manipulation proposed by Montgomerie may be considerably improved. In Montgomerie´s paper, a closed contact is allotted the symbol unity, and an open ontact the symbol zero. Contacts in series are then treated as if additive, while contacts in parallel are treated as if multiplicative. The present paper shows that, if contacts in series are treated as multiplicative and contacts in parallel as additive, a considerable simplification of algebra results, with a concomitant gain in elegance. This usage avoids the necessity for rules such as 1+0 = 0, 1×0 = 1, which are in direct conflict with those of ordinary algebra. Also, many results which according to the original proposal would be obtained only after considerable manipulation are obtainable at sightusing the methods now proposed.