Re: BCNF

On Aug 2, 1:10 pm, "Brian Selzer" <br..._at_selzer-software.com> wrote:
> <aark..._at_gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:3a1e04e9-e65f-469f-8357-f36486009e72_at_b38g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Hi all,
>
> > BCNF
>
> >  the following is the definition is the definition of BCNF , which i
> > saw in a schaum series book
>
> >  1) The relation is 1 N.F
>
> >  2) for every functional dependency of the form X -> A , we have
> > either A C X or X is a super key of r. in other words,
> >     every functional dependency is either a trivial dependency or in
> > the case that the functional dependency is not   trivial then X must
> > be a super key.
>
> > now  my questions are as follows
>
> > 1)
>
> > we know that 2-ND normal form is all about separating partial
> > dependencies and full dependencies.third normal form is all about
> > removing transitive dependencies, in these lines can any one give
> > simple/ easy to understand method/explanation for converting a
> > relation in 3rd normal form to BCNF
>
> A relation schema is in 3NF iff for every functional dependency the
> determinant is a superkey or the dependent is prime; a relation schema is in
> BCNF iff every determinant is a superkey.  A schema that is in 3NF but not
> in BCNF will have one or more determinants that are not superkeys.  Find
> them and eliminate them.
>
>
>
> > 2)    how correct is the following definition of transitive
> > dependencies
>
> >  transitive dependencies
>
> > assume that A,B, and C  are the set of attributes of a relation(R).
> > further assume that the following
> > functional dependencies are satisfied simultaneously : A -> B , B -/-
> >> A, B -> C , and C -/-> A and A -> C
> > observe that C -> B is neither prohibited nor required. if all these
> > conditions are true, we will say that  attribute C is transitively
> > dependent on attribute on A
>
> It is not correct: what if B = C or C is a subset of B?

this is what the the reply i got from the authors of the book

The condition for having a transitive dependency is as follows:

A -> B B-> C from this you will infer that A ->C provided that B does not determine A and C does not determine A. The reason for requiring that B does not determine A is because we are assuming that A is the only key. If B were to determine A then B will also be a key. Same thing applies to C. Remember that you are going from 1NF to 2NF. This latter form requires that you do not have any partial dependencies on any primary or candidate key. That is no subset of A can determine B if A is a key or candidate key. If B=C then they are the same attribute and every attribute determines itself. That is what the reflexivity axiom is all about. Remember that 2NF requires that there cannot be partial dependencies on the key. It does not talk about partial dependencies among the other attributes if these attribute are not primary key or candidate key. Just make sure that before you guarantee that a set of relationships are in 2NF you find ALL keys. From this set you will choose a primary key. There got to be only one primary key. The other possible keys are candidate. Tell your friends that they are not correct the definition in the book is the original and only definition that there is about transitivity. Just remember that in the book we are assuming that A is the PK. If as your friends say B -> A and A is a key then B is a key. As I mentioned before this applies also to C. If A, B, and C were all keys then the definition of 2NF and 3NF are moot because there cannot be partial or transitive dependencies because these definitions require that there exist other attributes that are not primary or candidate keys. You need to be careful when you go to 3NF if you have PK that overlap. Then you have to move to BC normal form.

Thanks for reading the book and reading it carefully. If you find any mistakes please let me know, Pauline and I are in the process of getting ready for the 2nd. Ed.
Ramon A. Mata-Toledo Received on Fri Aug 08 2008 - 11:38:09 CEST