What occurs in an AND gate if either X or Y or both are low?

In an AND gate, the output is determined by the logic rule that states the output will be high (or "1") only if all of its inputs are high (or "1"). If either input X or input Y is low (or "0"), or if both inputs are low, the output of the AND gate will consequently be low (or "0"). This behavior is based on the fundamental operation of logic gates in digital circuits.

Therefore, when evaluating the condition where either or both of the inputs are low, the only conclusion to draw is that the output cannot be high; it must remain at a low level. This characteristic is critical in understanding how AND gates function in various applications, such as in digital circuits, where precise control of output based on multiple inputs is necessary.