D426 DATA MANAGEMENT
FOUNDATIONS FINAL EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which normal form is specifically concerned with removing partial functional
dependencies?
A. First Normal Form (1NF)
B. Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)
C. Third Normal Form (3NF)
D. Second Normal Form (2NF)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Second Normal Form (2NF) requires that the table is in 1NF and
all non-key attributes are fully functionally dependent on the entire primary key, thereby
removing partial dependencies.
2. In relational algebra, which operator is used to select a subset of columns from a relation?
A. Selection (sigma)
B. Join (bowtie)
,C. Projection (pi)
D. Union (U)
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Projection (pi) is used to choose specific attributes (columns)
from a relation, while Selection (sigma) is used to choose rows based on a condition.
3. Which SQL statement is used to remove all records from a table without deleting the table
structure itself?
A. DROP TABLE
B. DELETE FROM
C. REMOVE TABLE
D. TRUNCATE TABLE
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: TRUNCATE TABLE is a DDL command that removes all rows
from a table, resetting any auto-increment counters, while keeping the table structure
intact.
4. What is a transitive dependency in the context of database normalization?
A. When a table has multiple candidate keys.
B. When a non-key attribute depends on only part of a composite primary key.
C. When two primary keys depend on each other.
, D. When a non-key attribute depends on another non-key attribute.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A transitive dependency occurs when a non-key attribute is
dependent on another non-key attribute, which is the primary issue addressed when
moving from 2NF to 3NF.
5. In an Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD), what does ‘modality’ represent?
A. The maximum number of times an instance of one entity can be associated with another.
B. The relationship between a supertype and a subtype.
C. The total number of attributes in an entity.
D. The minimum number of times an instance of one entity can be associated with another.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Modality (or participation) refers to the minimum number of
instances (often 0 or 1) in a relationship, indicating whether the relationship is optional or
mandatory.
6. Which type of JOIN returns all records from the left table and the matched records from
the right table, filling with NULLs where there is no match?
A. INNER JOIN
B. RIGHT JOIN
C. LEFT JOIN
FOUNDATIONS FINAL EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which normal form is specifically concerned with removing partial functional
dependencies?
A. First Normal Form (1NF)
B. Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)
C. Third Normal Form (3NF)
D. Second Normal Form (2NF)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Second Normal Form (2NF) requires that the table is in 1NF and
all non-key attributes are fully functionally dependent on the entire primary key, thereby
removing partial dependencies.
2. In relational algebra, which operator is used to select a subset of columns from a relation?
A. Selection (sigma)
B. Join (bowtie)
,C. Projection (pi)
D. Union (U)
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Projection (pi) is used to choose specific attributes (columns)
from a relation, while Selection (sigma) is used to choose rows based on a condition.
3. Which SQL statement is used to remove all records from a table without deleting the table
structure itself?
A. DROP TABLE
B. DELETE FROM
C. REMOVE TABLE
D. TRUNCATE TABLE
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: TRUNCATE TABLE is a DDL command that removes all rows
from a table, resetting any auto-increment counters, while keeping the table structure
intact.
4. What is a transitive dependency in the context of database normalization?
A. When a table has multiple candidate keys.
B. When a non-key attribute depends on only part of a composite primary key.
C. When two primary keys depend on each other.
, D. When a non-key attribute depends on another non-key attribute.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A transitive dependency occurs when a non-key attribute is
dependent on another non-key attribute, which is the primary issue addressed when
moving from 2NF to 3NF.
5. In an Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD), what does ‘modality’ represent?
A. The maximum number of times an instance of one entity can be associated with another.
B. The relationship between a supertype and a subtype.
C. The total number of attributes in an entity.
D. The minimum number of times an instance of one entity can be associated with another.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Modality (or participation) refers to the minimum number of
instances (often 0 or 1) in a relationship, indicating whether the relationship is optional or
mandatory.
6. Which type of JOIN returns all records from the left table and the matched records from
the right table, filling with NULLs where there is no match?
A. INNER JOIN
B. RIGHT JOIN
C. LEFT JOIN
