I realize that this must be a very basic question, but I'm new to all of this and thus far my instructors have actually been a bit standoffish when it comes to guidance, thus I turn to you.

This is what we have been given -

My partner and I are are number 1 under breadboard implementation.

I've read a few resources on decoders, and the main idea expressed was that you can use them in the form of n-to-2^n, or a BCD decoder, where only one of the outputs will be active.

I don't understand how that concept applies to our lab assignment. In what way do we need to use a decoder to build the given functions?

It looks as though we just have three outputs defined in terms of three variables.
Thus far the only thing my partner and I have built is a 3-way majority gate in a previous lab, and the above circuit looks more similar to that.

I just need some help understanding how a decoder fits in with all of this.

 

Think of a 1 of 4 decoder.

You have two select inputs, A and B, and those put a HI on one of the four output lines as follows:

A|B||Y0|Y1|Y3|Y3
0|0||HI|LO|LO|LO
0|1||LO|HI|LO|LO
1|0||LO|LO|HI|LO
1|1||LO|LO|LO|HI

What happens if you have your final output as F = Y1 OR Y2 ?

What logic function is implements by F(A,B)?

 

If F = Y1 or Y2 then F would be high when A=0B=1 or A=1B=0 I guess.

For some reason I can't even get the decoder to work.
I hooked it up to power and ground, hooked up my three inputs and 8 outputs, and hooked up an LED to test it.

Every output is high no matter what combination of inputs I use.
I have no idea what's wrong.

 

If F = Y1 or Y2 then F would be high when A=0B=1 or A=1B=0 I guess.

And what logic function is that?

For some reason I can't even get the decoder to work.
I hooked it up to power and ground, hooked up my three inputs and 8 outputs, and hooked up an LED to test it.

Every output is high no matter what combination of inputs I use.
I have no idea what's wrong.

How did you hook up your LED? Did you use a current limiting resistor?

There's very little we can do to help if you won't provide a schematic or a picture or even tell us which parts you are using.