Final answer:
Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT can be used to combine search conditions, either to narrow or broaden search results. AND combines all search terms, OR allows for any of the terms, and NOT excludes specific terms.
Step-by-step explanation:
When conducting a search, especially in academic research or when trying to filter search results on the internet, students can utilize certain operators to refine their searches. These operators are known as Boolean operators, and they play a crucial role in combining search conditions to either narrow down or broaden the search results. The key Boolean operators that can be used for this purpose include AND, OR, and NOT.
Using AND allows you to connect multiple search terms and ensures that the search results include all of those terms. On the other hand, the OR operator broadens the search results by allowing any of the search terms to appear in the resulting documents or web pages. Finally, the NOT operator is used when you want to exclude certain terms from your search, effectively narrowing down the results by filtering out unwanted information.
For example, a search query like "artificial intelligence" AND "ethics" will yield results that contain both terms. In contrast, a search like "renewable energy" OR "solar power" will give you a wider range of articles that discuss either term. If you want articles on artificial intelligence without mentioning self-driving cars, you could use the search string "artificial intelligence" NOT "self-driving cars".