Smarter Internet Searching Boolean Operators

What are Boolean operators? FThe terms “AND, OR, & NOT” when used in Internet searches are called Boolean operators

Why do we call them “Boolean?” FGeorge Boole was an English mathematician who lived from FHe invented a branch of mathematics called Boolean algebra FHis theories formed the basis for using Boolean operators in Internet searches FGeorge Boole was an English mathematician who lived from FHe invented a branch of mathematics called Boolean algebra FHis theories formed the basis for using Boolean operators in Internet searches

How do you use Boolean operators? FUsing AND: Using AND narrows a search by combining terms; it will bring back documents that use both the search terms you put in, for example: Portland AND Oregon FUsing AND: Using AND narrows a search by combining terms; it will bring back documents that use both the search terms you put in, for example: Portland AND Oregon

FUsing 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 FUsing 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

FUsing 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 FUsing 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 Or

Using NOT Diagrams from tml

Mini Quiz FWhich will get you the MOST results: A.AND B.OR C.NOT FWhich will get you the MOST results: A.AND B.OR C.NOT Answer: B. OR

We’re going to play a little game to practice some more. 1.Red shirts 2. Red shirts AND White shirts What happened when we added the AND?

3. Blue Shirts 4. Blue shirts OR white shirts What happened when we added the OR?

5. Red Shirts 6. Red Shirts NOT wearing a sweatshirt What happened when we added the NOT?

Shortcuts FNot all search engines use Boolean operators in the same way FYou can use shortcuts in Google: F“ “ F + for AND F - for NOT FNot all search engines use Boolean operators in the same way FYou can use shortcuts in Google: F“ “ F + for AND F - for NOT

Let’s practice some more togetherLet’s practice some more together: Let’s practice some more togetherLet’s practice some more together:

Now you’re going to try it on your own! Try the SCS search to find out about SCS history. Try it four times, each time using one of the Google tricks to narrow things down. Use smithtown christian school, then smithtown christian school and history, smithtown christian school or history then smithtown christian school not history. Note how many hits you get each time. Send me an through new.schoolnotes.com explaining what you did each time, and how it narrowed or broadened the results. your results to PPT adapted: by Miss Gleason 4/18/11 from unknown source Now you’re going to try it on your own! Try the SCS search to find out about SCS history. Try it four times, each time using one of the Google tricks to narrow things down. Use smithtown christian school, then smithtown christian school and history, smithtown christian school or history then smithtown christian school not history. Note how many hits you get each time. Send me an through new.schoolnotes.com explaining what you did each time, and how it narrowed or broadened the results. your results to PPT adapted: by Miss Gleason 4/18/11 from unknown source