{{Short description|Boolean function which has monotonic properties}}{{Unreferenced|date=October 2025}}
A '''unate function''' is a type of boolean function which has monotonic properties. They have been studied extensively in switching theory.
A function <math>f(x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_n)</math> is said to be '''positive unate''' in <math>x_i</math> if for all possible values of <math>x_j</math>, <math>j\neq i</math> :<math>f(x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_{i-1},1,x_{i+1},\ldots,x_n) \ge f(x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_{i-1},0,x_{i+1},\ldots,x_n).\,</math> Likewise, it is '''negative unate''' in <math>x_i</math> if :<math>f(x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_{i-1},0,x_{i+1},\ldots,x_n) \ge f(x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_{i-1},1,x_{i+1},\ldots,x_n).\,</math> If for every <math>x_i</math> ''f'' is either positive or negative unate in the variable <math>x_i</math> then it is said to be '''unate''' (note that some <math>x_i</math> may be positive unate and some negative unate to satisfy the definition of unate function). A function is '''binate''' if it is not unate (i.e., is neither positive unate nor negative unate in at least one of its variables).
For example, the logical disjunction function ''or'' with boolean values used for true (1) and false (0) is positive unate. Conversely, Exclusive or is non-unate, because the transition from 0 to 1 on input x0 is both positive unate and negative unate, depending on the input value on x1.
Category:Boolean algebra