Deck 5: Database Design 1: Normalization

Question 1

The normalization process used to convert a relation or collection of relations to an equivalent collection of third normal form tables is a crucial part of the database design process.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Removal of repeating groups is the starting point in the quest to create tables that are as free of problems as possible.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

A table that is in first normal form is better than one that is in second normal form.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The primary key in a table is a determinant but candidate keys are not determinants.

Question 5

To correct update anomalies in a database,tables must be converted into various types of normal forms.

Question 6

Converting to third normal form always avoids the problems related to dependencies.

Question 7

The definition for ____ also defines a candidate key.

A)functional key
B)natural key
C)primary key
D)surrogate key

Question 8

In general,when converting a non-first normal form table to first normal form,the primary key will usually include the original primary key concatenated with the key to the repeating group.

Question 9

Tables that are in second normal form do not update anomalies.

Question 10

Functional dependencies can be determined by looking at sample data.

Question 11

If B (an attribute) is functionally dependent on A,we can also say that ____.

A)A functionally determines B
B)A functionally determines another attribute in the table
C)B functionally determines A
D)B does not determine any other attribute

Question 12

If B is functionally dependent on A,you can also say that B functionally determines A.

Question 13

A column is a nonkey attribute when it is not part of the primary key.

Question 14

The possibility of data dependence is one of the four categories of update anomalies.

Question 15

The fact that column B is functionally dependent on column A can be written as ____.

A)A ® ® B
B)B ® A
C)A ® B
D)B ® ® A

Question 16

If the primary key of a table contains only a single column,the table is automatically in third normal form.

Question 17

Potential problems in the design of a relational database are known as ____.

A)select anomalies
B)update anomalies
C)modification anomalies
D)relational anomalies

Question 18

By splitting relations to achieve third normal form tables,you create the need to express interrelation constraints.

Question 19

In a dependency diagram,the arrows below the boxes indicate the partial dependencies.

Question 20

The ____ is a column (or collection of columns) A such that all other columns are functionally dependent on A and no subcollection of the columns in A has this property.

A)functional key
B)composite key
C)primary key
D)declared key

Question 21

A column is a nonkey column if it is ____.

A)in first normal form
B)in second normal form
C)a part of the primary key
D)not a part of the primary key

Question 22

A(n) ____________________ uses arrows to indicate all the functional dependencies present in the table.

Question 23

____ contains a repeating group.

A)Orders (OrderNum,OrderDate,(PartNum,NumOrdered) )
B)Orders (OrderNum,OrderDate,PartNum,NumOrdered )
C)Orders (OrderNum,OrderDate)
D)Orders (OrderNum,PartNum,NumOrdered )

Question 24

To convert a table to fourth normal form,split the third normal form table into separate tables,each containing the column that ____ the others.

A)determines
B)multidetermines
C)defines
D)identifies

Question 25

Any column or collection of columns that determines another column is called a(n) ____________________.

Question 26

Partial dependencies are dependencies on only a portion of the ____.

A)intelligent key
B)first column or attribute
C)primary key
D)index key

Question 27

A table that contains a repeating group is called a(n) ____.

A)dependent relation
B)unnormalized relation
C)nominal relation
D)non-nominal relation

Question 28

Another name for a nonkey column is a ____.

A)nonkey attribute
B)key attribute
C)nonkey row
D)key table

Question 29

A column B is ____________________ on another column A if each value for A in the database is associated with exactly one value of B.

Question 30

The conversion of an unnormalized table to first normal form requires the removal of ____.

A)determinants
B)interrelation constraints
C)nonkey columns
D)repeating groups

Question 31

An alternate key is a ____.

A)surrogate key
B)natural key
C)column that could be a primary key but was not chosen
D)row that could be a primary key but was not chosen

Question 32

A table is in first normal form if it does not contain ____.

A)dependencies
B)repeating groups
C)a primary key
D)anomalies

Question 33

If there is more than one possible choice for the primary key,and one of the possibilities is chosen to be the primary key,the other choices are referred to as ____.

A)surrogate keys
B)alternate keys
C)intelligent keys
D)contributory keys

Question 34

If you have different descriptions for the same item,such as part numbers,then you have the update anomaly known as ____________________.

Question 35

A(n) ____ is a column or collection of columns on which all columns in the table are functionally dependent.

A)index key
B)candidate key
C)major key
D)special key

Question 36

The ____________________ process enables you to identify the existence of potential problems in the design of a database.

Question 37

Second normal form can be defined as a table that is in first normal form but that contains no ____.

A)partial dependencies
B)alternate keys
C)nonkey columns
D)interrelation constraints

Question 38

A table is in fourth normal form when it is in third normal form and there are no ____.

A)alternate dependencies
B)partial dependencies
C)multivalued dependencies
D)primary dependencies

Question 39

From all the ____ keys,one is chosen to be the primary key.

A)alternate
B)candidate
C)natural
D)normal

Question 40

____ normal form has an additional condition that the only determinants the table contains are candidate keys.

A)First
B)Second
C)Third
D)Fourth

Question 41

Explain what normalization is,including the goal of normalization.

Question 42

Describe the procedure for converting a table to the third normal form.

Question 43

In a table with columns A,B,and C,there is a(n) ____________________ dependence of column B on column A if each value for A is associated with a specific collection of values for B and,further,this collection is independent of any values for C.

Question 44

What is the difference between a table in second normal form and one in third normal form?

Question 45

By converting a given collection of tables to an equivalent third normal form collection of tables,you remove any problems arising from ____________________ dependencies.

Question 46

What are the four categories of update anomalies and why could these problems occur when a relation is in first normal form but not in second normal form?

Question 47

By splitting relations to achieve third normal form tables,you create the need to express a(n) ____________________ constraint,a condition that involves two or more relations.

Question 48

____________________ dependencies are dependencies on only a portion of the primary key.

Question 49

A ® ® B signifies that B is ____________________ on A.

Question 50

Discuss how candidate keys,primary key,and alternate keys are related.