Chapter 1, Problem 1RQ

Problem

Define the following terms: data, database, DBMS, database system, database catalog,
program-data independence, user view, DBA, end user, canned transaction, deductive database
system, persistent object, meta-data, and transaction-processing application.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 14

Data

The word data is derived from the Latin which means ‘to give’; data is real given facts, from
which additional facts can be inferred. Data is a collection of known facts that can be recorded
and that have implicit meanings.

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Step 2 of 14

Database
Database is a collection of related data or operational data extracted from any firm or
organization. In other words, a collection of organized data is called database.

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Step 3 of 14

DBMS (Database Management System)

DBMS is a collection of programs that enables users to create, maintain, and manipulate a
database. The DBMS is a general purpose software system that facilitates the process of
defining, constructing, and manipulating database.

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Step 4 of 14

Database Systems

A database system comprises a database of operational data, together with the processing
functionality required to access and manage that data. The combination of the DBMS and the
database is called database systems.

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Step 5 of 14

Database Catalog
A database catalog contains complete description of the databases, database objects, database
structure, details of users, and constraints etc. that are stored.

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Step 6 of 14

Program-data independence

In traditional file processing, the structure of the data files is ‘hard-coded” into the programs. To
change the structure of the data file, one or more programs that access that file, should be
changed. The process of changing can introduce errors. In contrast to this more traditional
approach, DBMS access stores the structure in a catalog, separating the DBMS programs and
the data definition. Storing the data and programs separately is known as program-data
independence.

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Step 7 of 14

User View

The way in which the database appears to a particular user is called user view.

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Step 8 of 14
DBA (Database Administrator)

DBA is a person who is responsible for authorizing access to the database, coordinating and
monitoring its use, and acquiring software and hardware resources as needed.

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Step 9 of 14

End User

End users are the people who want to access the database for different purposes like, querying,
updating, and generating reports.

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Step 10 of 14

Canned Transactions

Standardized queries and updates on the database using carefully programmed and tested
programs.

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Step 11 of 14
Deductive Database System

A deductive database system is a database system that supports the proof-theoretic view of a
database, and ,in particular, is capable of deducing are inferring additional facts from the given
facts in the extensional database by applying specified deductive anxious are rules of inference
to those given facts.

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Step 12 of 14

Persistent object

Object-Oriented database systems are compatible with programming languages such as c++ and
JAVA. An object that is stored in such a way that it survives that termination of the DBMS
program is persistent.

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Step 13 of 14

Meta Data

Information about the data is called Meta data. The information stored in the catalog is called
Meta data. The schema of a table is an example of Meta data.

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 Step 14 of 14

Transaction processing application

A transaction is a logical unit of database. The processing includes one or more database
operations like, insertion, deletion, modification and retrieval. The database operations that form
a transaction can either be embedded within an application program on they can be specified
interactively via a high-level query language such as SQL.

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Chapter 1, Problem 2RQ

Problem

What four main types of actions involve databases? Briefly discuss each.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 5

The four types of actions involve the database are as follows:

• Database Administration

• Database Designing

• Database Usage by end users.

• System Analysis and Application Programming

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Step 2 of 5

• Database Administration:
• Database Administration is a process of administering the database resources such as
application programs, database management system.

• Database Administrator (DBA) is responsible for giving the permission to access the
database.

• The administrative work also includes acquiring the software and hardware resources.

• The security of the database is also managed by the database administration.

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Step 3 of 5

• Database designing:

• Database designing is a process of designing the database which includes identifying the data
to be stored in the database and which data structures will be required to store the data.

• Database design should fulfill the requirements of all the user groups of the organization.

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Step 4 of 5

• Database Usage by end user:

• End users are the users who can directly access the database for querying, updating and
generating the reports. There are following types of end users:

o Casual end user: These are the users who access the database occasionally. Middle and
high-level managers are the examples of the Casual end users.
o Parametric end user: These are the users who constantly access the database. Bank tellers
are the examples of the parametric end users.

o Sophisticated end user: They are under the category of engineers, scientists who implement
the application to meet the complex requirements.

o Standalone users: These are the users who maintain personal database by using ready-made
program packages.

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Step 5 of 5

• System Analysis and Application Programming:

• The system analysis is a process which determines the requirement of the end users.

• The system analysis is done by the System Analysts. System Analysts develop the
specification for the canned transactions that meet the requirement of the end users.

• The implementation of these specification is done by the Application programmers.

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Chapter 1, Problem 3RQ

Problem

Discuss the main characteristics of the database approach and how it differs from traditional file
systems.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 4

Characteristics of Database:

Self – Describing nature of a database system:

A fundamental characteristic of the database approach is that the database system contains not
only the database itself but also complete definitions are description of the database. Structure
and constraints.

• The information stored in the catalogs is called meta – data, and if describes the structure of the
primary database.

• In traditional file processing, data definition is typically part of the application programs
themselves.

Those programs are constrained to work with only one specific database; whose structure is
declared in the application programs.

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 Step 2 of 4

Insulation between programs and data and data abstraction:–

In traditional file processing, the structure of data files is embedded in the applications programs,
so any changes to the structure of a file may require changing all programs that access that file.

• DBMS access programs do not require such changes in vast cases.

• The structure of data files is stored in DBMS catalog separately from the access programs.

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Step 3 of 4

Support of multiple views of the data

A database typically has many users; each of whom may require a different perspective are view
of the database.

• A multi-user DBMS whose users have a variety of district applications must provide facilities for
defining multiple view.

• In case of traditional approach multiple views of data not supported.

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Step 4 of 4

Sharing of Data and Multi-user Transaction Process:–‘

A multi-user DBMS must allow multiple users to access the database at the sometime. The
DBMS must include concurrency central software to ensure that several users trying to update
the same data do so in an controlled manner so that the result of the updates is correct.

• In traditional database, no such data sharing is possible, there is no such concurrency software
available.

Comment
Chapter 1, Problem 4RQ

Problem

What are the responsibilities of the DBA and the database designers?

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 2

Responsibilities of DBA:

DBA stands for Data Base Administrator. The purpose of a database administrator is highly
technical, who is responsible for managing the database used in the organization.

• The database administrator has the responsibility to build the physical design of the database.

• The database administrator deals with the technical responsibilities like,

o Defence enforcement

o Performance of the database

o Provide access to the database

o Acquire resources such hardware and software components

o Backup of the data from the database

o Recovery of the lost data from the database

o Monitoring and Coordinating the use of database

o Monitoring response time and security breaches.

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Step 2 of 2

Responsibilities of Database Designer:

Database designer is the Architect of the database, database designer work is versatile, and
He/she works with everyone in the organization. The responsibilities of database designer is as
follows,

• The data to be stored in the database is identified by the database designers

• Appropriate structure to store the data are chosen by database designers

• Database designer studies and understands the business needs

• They communicate about the architecture to business and management and also may
participates in business development as advisor

• Ensure consistency across database

• Create and Enforce database development standards and processes.

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Chapter 1, Problem 5RQ

Problem

What are the different types of database end users? Discuss the main activities of each.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 2

The end users perform various database operations like querying, updating, and generating
reports.

The different types of end users are as follows:

• Casual end users

• Naive or parametric end users

• Sophisticated end users

• Standalone Users

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Step 2 of 2
Casual end users:

• The Casual end users access the database occasionally.

• Each time they access the database, their request will vary.

• They use sophisticated database query language to retrieve the data from the database.

Naive or parametric end users:

• Naïve or parametric end users spend most of their time in querying and updating the database
using standard types of queries.

Sophisticated end users:

• The sophisticated end users access the database to implement their own applications to meet
their specific goals.

• The sophisticated end users are engineers, scientists, and business analysts.

Standalone Users:

• The standalone end users maintain their own databases by creating one using the ready-made
program packages that provides a graphical user interface.

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Chapter 1, Problem 7RQ

Problem

Discuss the differences between database systems and information retrieval systems.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 14

Database Approach:– A databases is more than a file it contains information about more then
one entity and information about relationships among the entities.

Information retrieval systems:– It information retrieval system data are stored in file is a very old
rout often used approach to system developed.

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Step 2 of 14

Database approach:– Data about a single entity (i.e., Product customer, department) are each
stored to a “table” in the database.

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 Step 3 of 14

Information retrieval systems: Each program (system) often had its own unique set of files.

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Step 4 of 14

Database approach: Databases are designed to meet the needs of multiple users and to be used
in multiple applications.

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Step 5 of 14

Information retrieval systems: User of information retrieval systems are almost always at the
mercy of the information department to write programs that manipulate stored data and produce
needed information.

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Step 6 of 14
Database approach: Database approach are relatively complex to design, implement and
maintained.

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Step 7 of 14

Information retrieval systems: Information retrieval systems are very simple to design and
implement as they are normally based on a single application or information system.

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Step 8 of 14

Database approach: The process speed is slow in comparison to information retrieval systems.

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Step 9 of 14

Information retrieval systems:– The processing speed is faster than other ways of storing data

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 Step 10 of 14

Author Differences :–

In database systems program – data independence, bent in case of information retrieval

systems program – data are dependence.

Comment

Step 11 of 14

In database system minimal data redundancy improved data consistence, enforcement of

standards improved data quality, but in information retrieval systems duplication of data is resent

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Step 12 of 14

Improve data sharing is present in database, but in case of data retrieval limited data
sharing.

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Step 13 of 14
 In database flexibility and scalability are present but in retrieval system, data are not flexible
and scalable

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Step 14 of 14

In database, reduce data redundancy, but in case of data retrieval systems data redundancy
is are of the important problems.

Comment
Chapter 1, Problem 7RQ

Problem

Discuss the differences between database systems and information retrieval systems.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 14

Database Approach:– A databases is more than a file it contains information about more then
one entity and information about relationships among the entities.

Information retrieval systems:– It information retrieval system data are stored in file is a very old
rout often used approach to system developed.

Comment

Step 2 of 14

Database approach:– Data about a single entity (i.e., Product customer, department) are each
stored to a “table” in the database.

Comment
 Step 3 of 14

Information retrieval systems: Each program (system) often had its own unique set of files.

Comment

Step 4 of 14

Database approach: Databases are designed to meet the needs of multiple users and to be used
in multiple applications.

Comment

Step 5 of 14

Information retrieval systems: User of information retrieval systems are almost always at the
mercy of the information department to write programs that manipulate stored data and produce
needed information.

Comment

Step 6 of 14
Database approach: Database approach are relatively complex to design, implement and
maintained.

Comment

Step 7 of 14

Information retrieval systems: Information retrieval systems are very simple to design and
implement as they are normally based on a single application or information system.

Comment

Step 8 of 14

Database approach: The process speed is slow in comparison to information retrieval systems.

Comment

Step 9 of 14

Information retrieval systems:– The processing speed is faster than other ways of storing data

Comment
 Step 10 of 14

Author Differences :–

In database systems program – data independence, bent in case of information retrieval

systems program – data are dependence.

Comment

Step 11 of 14

In database system minimal data redundancy improved data consistence, enforcement of

standards improved data quality, but in information retrieval systems duplication of data is resent

Comment

Step 12 of 14

Improve data sharing is present in database, but in case of data retrieval limited data
sharing.

Comment

Step 13 of 14
 In database flexibility and scalability are present but in retrieval system, data are not flexible
and scalable

Comment

Step 14 of 14

In database, reduce data redundancy, but in case of data retrieval systems data redundancy
is are of the important problems.

Comment
Chapter 1, Problem 8E

Problem

Identify some informal queries and update operations that you would expect to apply to the
database shown in Figure 1.2.
 Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 2

Information Queries:–

a) Retrieve the transcript – a list of all courses and grades – of ‘smith’

b) List the name of students who took the section of the ‘Database’ course offered in fall 2005
and their grades in that section.

c) List the pre-requisites of the “Database” course

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Step 2 of 2

Updates Operations:–

a) Change the class of “Smith” to sophomore

b) Create a new section for the “Database” course for this semester.

c) Enter a grade of ‘A’ for ‘Smith’ in the ‘Database’ section of last semester

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Chapter 1, Problem 9E

Problem

What is the difference between controlled and uncontrolled redundancy? Illustrate with
examples.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 3

Storing the same facts or data at multiple places in the database is considered as redundancy. In
other words, duplication of data is known as redundancy.

Some of the problems with redundant data are as follows:

• Inconsistency of data

• Wastage of memory space

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Step 2 of 3

Differences between controlled redundancy and uncontrolled redundancy is as follows:

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Step 3 of 3

Example to illustrate controlled redundancy and uncontrolled redundancy is as follows:

Consider the following tables.

Employee(empno, ename, job, salary, dob)

Department(deptno, dname, location)

Project (pno, pname, description)

works(empno, deptno, pno)

Assume that an employee can work on multiple projects. So, in works table, empno and deptno
are redundant if an employee works on two or more projects.
Figure 1 is an example of controlled redundancy. Deptno for empno 100 is same in all three
records.

Figure 2 is an example of uncontrolled redundancy. Deptno for empno 100 is inconsistent in the
two records.

Comment
Chapter 1, Problem 10E

Problem

Specify all the relationships among the records of the database shown in Figure 1.2.
 Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 2

Relationship in the database specify how the data tables are related to each other.

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Step 2 of 2

The relationship between tables are as follows:

• Consider the tables COURSE and SECTION. The two tables have common column
“Course_number”.

Hence, the table SECTION is related to COURSE through Course_number.

• Consider the tables STUDENT and GRADE_REPORT. The two tables have common column
“Student_number”.

Hence, the table GRADE_REPORT is related to STUDENT through Student_number.

• Consider the tables COURSE and PREREQUISITE. The two tables have common column
“Course_number”.

Hence, the table PREREQUISITE is related to COURSE through Course_number.

• Consider the tables SECTION and GRADE_REPORT. The two tables have common column
“Section_identifier”.

Hence, the table GRADE_REPORT is related to SECTION through Section_identifier.

Chapter 1, Problem 11E

Problem

Give some additional views that may be needed by other user groups for the database shown in
Figure 1.2.
 Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 2

Additional views for the given database:

New view can be created, which filters each section number of a student and grade of the
student.

GRADE_SEC_REPORT

Student_number Section_identifier Course_number Grade

This view is very helpful for university’s administration to print each section’s grade report.

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Step 2 of 2

Additional view can be created, which filters total number of courses took by a student and the
grade achieved by a student in that courses.

COURSE_GRADE_REPORT

Student_number Course_number Grade GPA

This view is very helpful for university’s administration to determine students’ honours.
Chapter 1, Problem 12E

Problem

Cite some examples of integrity constraints that you think can apply to the database shown in
Figure 1.2.
 Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 1

Few constraints that can be imposed on database are:

1. Grade can be given only to enrolled students.

2. Each section must belong to any Course.

3. Each course must be a part of existing department

4. Prerequisite of each course must have been an offered course in past or must be an existing
course.

Student must be a part of section for which he is graded

Comment
Chapter 1, Problem 13E

Problem

Give examples of systems in which it may make sense to use traditional file processing instead
of a database approach.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 2

Despite the advantages of using a database approach, there are some situations in which a
DBMS may involve unnecessary overhead costs that would not be incurred in traditional file
processing.

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Step 2 of 2

The following are examples of systems in which it may make sense to use traditional file
processing instead of a database approach.

• Many computer aided design foals (CAD) used by the chemical and civil engineers have
proprietary file and data management software that is geared for the internal manipulations or
drawing and 3D objects.
• Similarly, communication and switching systems designed by companies like At & T.

• The GIS implementations often implement their own data organization schemes for efficiently
implementing functions related to processing maps, physical contours, lines, polygons, and so
on. General purpose DBMS’s are inadequate for their purpose.

• Small single user applications.

• The real-time navigation system that requires less data.

Comment
Chapter 1, Problem 14E

Problem

Consider Figure 1.2.

a. If the name of the ‘CS’ (Computer Science) Department changes to ‘CSSE’ (Computer
Science and Software Engineering) Department and the corresponding prefix for the course
number also changes, identify the columns in the database that would need to be updated.

b. Can you restructure the columns in the COURSE, SECTION, and PREREQUISITE tables so
that only one column will need to be updated?
 Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 2

a) The following columns need to be updated when the name of the department changed along
with the course number.

In the STUDENT table, Major has to be updated. In the COURSE table, Course_number and
Department should be updated. In the SECTION table, Course_number should be updated. In
the PREREQUISITE table, Course_number and Prerequisite_number are to be modified.

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Step 2 of 2

b) The columns of the tables are split as follows:

The tables are as follows after restructuring:

Comments (1)