INSY 3304 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Attributes ( simple, composite, single valued) - ✔✔•Should be simple and single-
valued (atomic data) •Should document default values, constraints, synonyms, and
aliases •Derived attributes should be clearly identified and include source(s) •Should not
be redundant unless this is required for transaction accuracy, performance, or
maintaining a history •Nonkey attributes must be fully dependent on the PK attribute
✔✔Relationships: - ✔✔•Should clearly identify relationship participants
•Should clearly define participation, connectivity, and document cardinality
✔✔Normalization - ✔✔is a technique used to design tables in which data redundancies
are minimized
✔✔Functional dependency - ✔✔is a relationship between two attributes, typically
between the PK and other non-key attributes within a table.
✔✔Full functional dependency - ✔✔is a state of database normalization that equates to
the normalization standard of Second Normal Form (2NF).
✔✔Partial dependency - ✔✔that a nonprime attribute is functionally dependent on part
of a candidate key.
✔✔Transitive dependency - ✔✔is an indirect relationship between values in the same
table that causes a functional dependency.
✔✔1NF (First Normal Form) - ✔✔No repeating groups and a primary key identified. All
nonkey attributes in the relation are dependent on the primary key.
A table is in 1NF when all key attributes are defined and all remaining attributes are
dependent on the primary key
✔✔2NF (Second Normal Form) - ✔✔1NF plus no partial dependencies (dependencies
in only part of the primary key).
✔✔3NF (Third Normal Form) - ✔✔2NF plus no nonkey attribute is functionally
dependent on another nonkey attribute (no transitive dependencies)
✔✔BCNF (Boyce-Codd Normal Form) - ✔✔A special type of 3NF in which every
determinant is a candidate key.
✔✔4NF (fourth normal form) - ✔✔In ____________________ no row may contain two
or more multivalued facts about an entity.
, is a level of database normalization where there are no non-trivial multivalued
dependencies other than a candidate key.
✔✔Denormalization - ✔✔What - is the process of adding precomputed redundant data
to an otherwise normalized relational database to improve read performance of the
database.
Why - is a database optimization technique in which we add redundant data to one or
more tables
✔✔ Components of a DB System - ✔✔1)Hardware (comp, storage, printers)
2)Software (OS, DBMS software, apps)
3)People (all users, admin, end users, programmers)
4)Procedures (rules, enforce standards)
5)Data (collection of facts stored)
✔✔Functions of a DBMS - ✔✔Data storage, retrieval, and update, user-accessible
catalog, transaction support, concurrency control services, recovery services,
authorization services, support for data communication, integrity services, services to
promote data independence, utility services, Enables data to be shared, Presents the
end user with an integrated view of data, Provides more efficient and effective data
management, Improves sharing, security, integration, access, decision-making,
productivity, etc.
✔✔Different types of database systems (by location and number of users) - ✔✔Look on
Review
✔✔Hierarchical Model - ✔✔An early database model whose basic concepts and
characteristics formed the basis for subsequent database development. This model is
based on an upside-down tree structure in which each record is called a segment. The
top record is the root segment. Each segment has a 1:M relationship to the segment
directly below it.
✔✔Advantages and disadvantages of Hierarchical Model - ✔✔Advantages:
Pretty efficient
Everything is in on file not many
•Promotes data sharing
•Parent/child relationship promotes conceptual simplicity and data integrity
•Database security is provided and enforced by DBMS
•Efficient with 1:M relationships
Disadvantages:
•Requires knowledge of physical data storage characteristics
•Navigational system requires knowledge of hierarchical path
•Changes in structure require changes in all application programs
•Implementation limitations
•No data definition
•Lack of standards,
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Attributes ( simple, composite, single valued) - ✔✔•Should be simple and single-
valued (atomic data) •Should document default values, constraints, synonyms, and
aliases •Derived attributes should be clearly identified and include source(s) •Should not
be redundant unless this is required for transaction accuracy, performance, or
maintaining a history •Nonkey attributes must be fully dependent on the PK attribute
✔✔Relationships: - ✔✔•Should clearly identify relationship participants
•Should clearly define participation, connectivity, and document cardinality
✔✔Normalization - ✔✔is a technique used to design tables in which data redundancies
are minimized
✔✔Functional dependency - ✔✔is a relationship between two attributes, typically
between the PK and other non-key attributes within a table.
✔✔Full functional dependency - ✔✔is a state of database normalization that equates to
the normalization standard of Second Normal Form (2NF).
✔✔Partial dependency - ✔✔that a nonprime attribute is functionally dependent on part
of a candidate key.
✔✔Transitive dependency - ✔✔is an indirect relationship between values in the same
table that causes a functional dependency.
✔✔1NF (First Normal Form) - ✔✔No repeating groups and a primary key identified. All
nonkey attributes in the relation are dependent on the primary key.
A table is in 1NF when all key attributes are defined and all remaining attributes are
dependent on the primary key
✔✔2NF (Second Normal Form) - ✔✔1NF plus no partial dependencies (dependencies
in only part of the primary key).
✔✔3NF (Third Normal Form) - ✔✔2NF plus no nonkey attribute is functionally
dependent on another nonkey attribute (no transitive dependencies)
✔✔BCNF (Boyce-Codd Normal Form) - ✔✔A special type of 3NF in which every
determinant is a candidate key.
✔✔4NF (fourth normal form) - ✔✔In ____________________ no row may contain two
or more multivalued facts about an entity.
, is a level of database normalization where there are no non-trivial multivalued
dependencies other than a candidate key.
✔✔Denormalization - ✔✔What - is the process of adding precomputed redundant data
to an otherwise normalized relational database to improve read performance of the
database.
Why - is a database optimization technique in which we add redundant data to one or
more tables
✔✔ Components of a DB System - ✔✔1)Hardware (comp, storage, printers)
2)Software (OS, DBMS software, apps)
3)People (all users, admin, end users, programmers)
4)Procedures (rules, enforce standards)
5)Data (collection of facts stored)
✔✔Functions of a DBMS - ✔✔Data storage, retrieval, and update, user-accessible
catalog, transaction support, concurrency control services, recovery services,
authorization services, support for data communication, integrity services, services to
promote data independence, utility services, Enables data to be shared, Presents the
end user with an integrated view of data, Provides more efficient and effective data
management, Improves sharing, security, integration, access, decision-making,
productivity, etc.
✔✔Different types of database systems (by location and number of users) - ✔✔Look on
Review
✔✔Hierarchical Model - ✔✔An early database model whose basic concepts and
characteristics formed the basis for subsequent database development. This model is
based on an upside-down tree structure in which each record is called a segment. The
top record is the root segment. Each segment has a 1:M relationship to the segment
directly below it.
✔✔Advantages and disadvantages of Hierarchical Model - ✔✔Advantages:
Pretty efficient
Everything is in on file not many
•Promotes data sharing
•Parent/child relationship promotes conceptual simplicity and data integrity
•Database security is provided and enforced by DBMS
•Efficient with 1:M relationships
Disadvantages:
•Requires knowledge of physical data storage characteristics
•Navigational system requires knowledge of hierarchical path
•Changes in structure require changes in all application programs
•Implementation limitations
•No data definition
•Lack of standards,
