Title: Exam 1
Course: KVCC BUS210 > Section: Assessments

Chapter 1

This chapter is primarily focused on what makes up a database and the historical context between databases and file systems. Much of the framework for the course is established within in this chapter. Answer the following questions;

a.           With the discussion of anything in regards to data or databases, the first topic that usually comes up has to do with the distinction between data and information. We have provided the definitions of each in terms of the book and how the two items vary. What I would like you to do is relate the concept to you as an individual. As per this, you will likely have to define the two items however, give an example of each based on some area that is important to you. What do you do in your life that deals with a similar relationship and describe this as a method to illustrate your views.

b.           Along the same vein, I want you describe the connection between a database and a management system and how the two relate together?

c.           The book has a whole section on how database design is important where it spends time talking about how outside thoughts and practices especially those in relation to files systems can have a large amount of impact on the outcomes of a database. Answer these questions on this topic:

i.           Do you think database design is important? Why?

ii.           Much of the books focus is on the fact that a bad design can hamper the eventual developed database. Do you agree with this? Why/Why Not?

iii.           Now I want you to think of a database where its design is centered on a bad foundation.

a.           What was this database?

b.           What was wrong with the database in your opinion?

c.           How do these problems fit with the concept of design?

d.           How easy was it to use?

e.           Do you think the database could have been fixed or would the entire system have to be scrapped and built up from the ground? Defend you answer?

d.           One of the main problems that can occur with improper database design is that of redundancy. The following questions are on this topic:

i.     What is the problem with redundancy?

1.           The book lists four areas and this might help you focus your response

a.           Poor data security

b.           Data Inconsistency

c.           Data-entry errors

d.           Data integrity problems

ii.     How can this be addressed?

Chapter 2

This chapter deals with data modeling and how to begin the process of discovery the requirements of a database system. The questions below are on this subject:

1.           Before you are able to really describe what a system has to track in terms of a database you need to know the business and its operations. To start this discovery the first step is to understand the business rules.

a.           What are business rules?

b.           How do they affect database design?

c.           Give an example of three business rules that you have experienced at your current or past workplace?

d.           What did these rules illustrate when it comes to being aligned with a database?

e.           Take one of the examples and break it down into the following components

i.                Entities

ii.                Attributes

iii.                Relationships

2.           Describe the flow between the two entities.

3.           As we talk about relationships and connecting data from one table to the next we become concerned with describing the attributes in such a manner that they allow us to identify items such as foreign keys.

a.           What is a naming convention

i.         Provide an example

b.           Why are they important to databases

c.           When designing your database how would you use naming conventions? Why?

4.           Once you understand business rules and you have the naming convention system in place you can begin to structure the data further by applying it into some form of model. We have focused on a few of these in assignments however I want you to understand these formats so that when it becomes necessary you can pick the best item that will fulfill your needs.

a.           The book lists the following models. I want you to look at what each does and summarize them each with a few words and no more than a sentence for each. Once this is done, I would like you to list at least one advantage and disadvantage for each.

i.           File System

ii.           Hierarchal/Network (these are technically different models however they are similar and the book groups them together in the end)

iii.           Relational

iv.           Object Oriented

v.           XML/Hybrid

vi.           NoSQL

5.           The final thing in this chapter we need to be concerned about is the model of looking at the system and how it is structured. These data abstraction methods are:

a.           External

b.           Conceptual

c.           Internal

d.           Physical

6.           I want you to relay each of the items by examining some form of database that you have used or may develop. Explain each method by aligning it with this database. Why is each of these important?

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 begins the discussion of the relational database model, which is what the remainder of the book is focused on.

1.      The chapter begins with a discussion about E.F. Codd and what he based the relational database structure on. The book lists two components to this, which are predicate logic and set theory.

a.           What is each of these?

b.           Give a scenario or model that explains each further.

c.           Why are these important/Are they even important?

d.           Do you believe you need to really understand these to know about relational databases?

2.      Much of the idea of a relational database is built around the concept of how tables align with one another. With this understanding, it is necessary to understand a table and all of its components. List all of the areas of a table trying to include as many different terms as possible.

3.      When the tables are understood, the next step is knowing how they are related to each other in the relational model. This linking generally takes the form of using keys. Knowing these different types of keys will allow for a deeper understanding of a concept that is a focal point of this model. What I want you to do is create a sample table which has an example of each of the below keys (identify each):

a.               Primary

b.               Foreign

c.               Composite

d.               Super

e.               Candidate

f.                Secondary

4.      When you start looking at keys this causes you to examine the different levels of integrity that exists as part of these keys. These checks cause you to examine the idea of a null, answer the following questions:

a.           What is a null?

b.           How should we treat them in a database?

c.           What are the problems with nulls?

5.      We talked about various mathematical operations that can be done as part of working with a database. These are things that if understood will give you a better understanding of the behind the scenes operations of databases. Summarize each of the below in a few words or a sentence at most:

a.           Select

b.           Project

c.           Union

d.           Intersect

e.           Difference

f.            Product

g.           Join

h.           Divide

6.      In question two we talked about redundancy. Give an example as to why it would be necessary to have redundancy as part of a database?

Attached Files: | - KVCC BUS210_DatabaseDesignMgt_Asessment.pdf