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A transient output error caused by timing differences in a Boolean circuit. A static hazard temporarily changes an output that should remain constant; a dynamic hazard introduces extra transitions when the output should change once. A steady-state truth table cannot detect these timing effects. Consensus theorem terms can remove single-input static hazards in a sum of products, while simultaneous input changes may still produce other hazards.

A transient output error caused by timing differences in a Boolean circuit. A static hazard temporarily changes an output that should remain constant; a dynamic hazard introduces extra transitions when the output should change once. A steady-state truth table cannot detect these timing effects. Consensus theorem terms can remove single-input static hazards in a sum of products, while simultaneous input changes may still produce other hazards.

The steady-state output is $q=\bar{a}\bar{c}+bc+\bar{c}d$. Its Karnaugh map, with rows $ab$ and columns $cd$ in Gray code order, isThe existing prime implicants cover adjacent ones except for some transitions in $c$. The consensus theorem supplies the two missing bridging implicants $\bar{a}b$ and $bd$, givingBoth are needed in a hazard-free sum of products retaining the original terms. At $a=0,b=1,d=0$, the two values of $c$ require a common implicant, necessarily covered by $\bar{a}b$; at $a=1,b=1,d=1$, the corresponding transition requires $bd$. Neither bridge covers the other's critical edge. All other adjacent-one pairs already share a term. Thus two is the least number of additional prime implicants. This addresses single-input static hazards; simultaneous input changes require separate analysis.

A logic hazard in which an output intended to remain one briefly falls to zero. In a sum of products, cover every adjacent pair of one-cells in a Karnaugh map with a common product implicant. That term omits the changing input and remains one throughout the transition, holding the OR output high regardless of the other path delays. This argument assumes one input changes at a time and the circuit starts settled.

For a concrete circuit, let $x=\bar{a}\bar{c}$, $y=bc$, $z=\bar{c}d$, $w=y+z$ and $q=x+w$. Give every gate, including each inverter, propagation delay 10 ns. Starting from $a=b=c=d=1$, lower $c$ at time zero. Signal $y$ falls at 10 ns, while $z$ rises only at 20 ns. Their gap passes through the two OR gates, making $q$ fall during 30–40 ns even though its steady-state value remains one.

Adding the two consensus theorem products $\bar{a}b$ and $bd$ preserves the Boolean function and holds the output high across every potentially hazardous single-input transition. The resulting five-term expression factors as $q=bc+(\bar{a}+d)(b+\bar{c})$. When a change of $c$ could leave the output steadily one, $b=1$ and $\bar{a}+d=1$ keep the second product steadily one. In the zero-to-zero case with changing $c$, $b=0$ and $\bar{a}+d=0$ keep both output products zero. Changes of $a,b,d$ use only one polarity each and therefore have no opposite-polarity race. This factored implementation uses three OR gates, two AND gates and two NOT gates, with a 40 ns maximum input-to-output path at the stated delays.