Lesson 4

How did you do on your quiz, Wendi?
	I aced it, of course. Now I'm going to the mall!
Not quite yet. I haven't told you about Boolean operators.
	Bull operators? People with horns who help you with long-distance phone calls?
Very funny, Wendi! Boolean operators help you search the Internet more effectively. Do you ever get frustrated when searching the Web because you get too many useless hits?
	Well, yeah. Sometimes I get so many hits that I feel overwhelmed. There's no way I can read all of those web sites. Most of them have nothing to do with what I'm looking for anyway.
I know what you mean. That's where Boolean operators come in. They help you find exactly what you're looking for. You used Boolean operators when you learned about the OPAC card catalog at school.
	Oh, I remember. AND, OR, and NOT! But why are they called "Boolean" operators?
They're named after George Boole, a mathematician who lived during the 19th century. He developed a system of logic that has been applied to Internet searches.
	Way to go, George. Let's get this over with. My credit card is burning a hole in my pocket! I just know I'm missing a great sale.