Explanation : First from the truth table of the exclusive OR operation. If both the switches are off i-e 0, 0 then the light will be off i-e, 0. So, 0, 0 yields 0. If you switch on either of the two switches i-e. 0 1 or 1 0, the light will be on. So, 0 1 yields 1 (so does 1 0 ). Now, if you switch on the other one, which is currently off, it will be 1 1. This should yield a 0. Compare these results with the truth table of XOR.