(5) Normalization

Question 1

Normalization

Answer 1

A process that assigns attributes to entities so that data redundancies are reduced or eliminated.

Question 2

First normal form (1NF)

Answer 2

the first stage in the normalization process. It describes a relation depicted in tabular format, with no repeating groups and a primary key identified. All monkey attributes in the relation are dependent on the primary key.

Question 3

Demoralization

Answer 3

A process by which a table is changed from a higher-level normal form to a lower-level normal form, usually to increase processing speed. Denormalization potentially yields data anomalies.

Question 4

Granularity

Answer 4

The level of detail represented by the values stored in a table’s row. Data stored at it’s lowest level of this is said to be atomic data.

Question 5

Partial dependency

Answer 5

A condition in which an attribute is dependent on only a portion (subset) of the primary key.

Question 6

Third normal form (3NF)

Answer 6

A table is in 3NF when it is in 2NF and no monkey attribute is functionally dependent on another monkey attribute; that is, it cannot include transitive dependencies.

Question 7

Determinant

Answer 7

Any attribute in a specific row whose value directly determines other values in that row.

Question 8

Atomic value

Answer 8

An attribute that cannot be further subdivided to produce meaningful components. For example, a person’s last name attribute cannot be meaningfully subdivided.

Question 9

Second normal form (2NF)

Answer 9

The second stage in the normalization process, in which a relation is in 1NF and there are no partial dependencies (dependencies in only part of the primary key).

Question 10

Fourth normal form (4NF)

Answer 10

A table is in this if it’s in 3NF and contains no multiple independent sets of multi valued dependencies.

Question 11

Nonprime attribute

Answer 11

An attribute that is not part of a key.

Question 12

Repeating group

Answer 12

In a relation, a characteristic describing a group of multiple entries of the same type for a single key attribute occurrence. For example, a car can have multiple colors for its top, interior, bottom, trim, and so on.

Question 13

Boyce-Codd normal form (BCNF)

Answer 13

A special type of third normal form (3NF) in which every determinant is a candidate key. A table in this must be in 3NF.

Question 14

Atomicity

Answer 14

The transaction property that requires all parts of a transaction to be treated as a single, indivisible, logical unit of work. All parts must of a transaction must be completed or the entire transaction is aborted.

Question 15

Transitive dependency

Answer 15

A condition in which an attribute is dependent on another attribute that is not part of the primary key.

Question 16

Dependency diagram

Answer 16

A representation of all data dependencies (primary key, partial, and transitive) within a table.