Smarter Internet Searching Boolean Operators

11/14/2009Mrs. Rooley 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

Let’s practice together: FNow let’s try it on the Internet with Google:Google FNow let’s try it on the Internet with Google:Google

Smarter Searching 1.List 5 topics you want to know more about. 2.List three key words that could be used to find information about each topic. EX. Swimmers, Olympic Swimmers, World Record Swimmers, Women Swimmers, etc. 1.List 5 topics you want to know more about. 2.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 FChoose one of your topics, What can you add to your search to get better results? FTry a one word search, then try adding AND and a second word. FDraw a Venn diagram showing your results. Label the circles and give a specific example of one of your search results. FChoose one of your topics, What can you add to your search to get better results? FTry a one word search, then try adding AND and a second word. FDraw a Venn diagram showing your results. Label the circles and give a specific example of one of your search results.

Using OR FNow do the same search using the OR operator between your two keywords. FDescribe what happened. FDraw a Venn Diagram showing the results. FNow do the same search using the OR operator between your two keywords. FDescribe what happened. FDraw a Venn Diagram showing the results.

Using NOT FSearch Google for ‘jaguar’, ‘mustang’ or ‘explorer’. What are your results? FNow search these terms adding ‘NOT cars’. What is the difference? FSearch Google for ‘jaguar’, ‘mustang’ or ‘explorer’. What are your results? FNow search these terms adding ‘NOT cars’. What is the difference?

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