Re: A Normalization Question

> > With respect to dbs, normalization is the process of eliminating or
> > replacing duplicate things with a reference to the original thing
> > being represented. Within the context of a db, duplicate references
> > are not considered redundant because they are unrelated to the thing
> > being represented.
>
> Redundancy (and Normalization!!!) in the RD world is based exclusively
> on Functional Dependencies.

RM is a limited data model. That RM's concept of redundancy/normalization is only based on functional dependencies, may be the reason why RM's fails to see 'brown', 'brown', 'brown' as redundant.

> Here is a reference for _you_: "Fundamentals of Database Systems", Elmasri &
> Navathe, Third Ed. pages 476-495. They start with functional dependencies
> and explain to you how (and when and why) to get all the way to 5NF and all
> points in between. In only 20 pages!

Unfortunately 5NF does not cover everthing. A better reference is C.J. Date "An Intro to Database Systems", 6th Ed, Chapter 10, Further Normalization I: 1NF, 2NF, 3NF, because he states on pg 291 "By now the reader might well be wondering whether there is any end to this progression and whether there might be a 6NF, a 7NF, and so on ad infintum...We content ourselves with the rather equivocal statement that there are indeed additional normal forms ..." Normalizing 'brown', 'brown', 'brown' is higher than 5NF. Received on Tue Jul 06 2004 - 19:43:05 CEST