Database Processing, Ninth Edition

CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Database Processing

True-False Questions
1. The purpose of a database is to help people keep track of things. Answer: True Level: easy Page: 2 Using lists to store data can result in data inconsistency problems. Answer: True Level: easy Page: 3 Using lists to store data can result in data deletion problems. Answer: True Level: easy Page: 3 Using lists to store data will not result in data addition problems. Answer: False Level: easy Page: 3 Breaking a data list into pieces with a single "theme" or purpose is done using a process called table making. Answer: False Level: easy Page: 4 A properly constructed database can be described as a list that has been broken up into a group of pieces, each of which is called a table. Answer: True Level: easy Page: 4 When a properly constructed database is constructed by breaking a list into an appropriate group of pieces, many of the problems associated with lists are solved. Answer: True Level: easy Page: 4 In order to connect the tables in a database, each row in each table must be identified by a table name Answer: False Level: moderate Page: 5 A column that contains a unique identifier for the rows of its own table is called a key. Answer: True Level: moderate Page: 6

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10.

A column that contains an identifier for the rows of another table in the database is called a global key. Answer: False Level: moderate Page: 6 It is the job of a program called a database management system to store and retrieve data in the database tables. Answer: True Level: moderate Page: 6 The industry standard supported by all major DBMSs that allows tables to be joined together is called Sequential Query Language. Answer: False Level: moderate Page: 6 In a database processing system, a database application interacts with the DBMS. Answer: True Level: moderate Page: 7 In a database processing system, a database application accesses the database data. Answer: False Level: moderate Page: 7 In a database processing system, the database application creates queries. Answer: True Level: moderate Page: 8 In a database processing system, forms are processed by the user. Answer: False Level: easy Page: 8 In database processing systems, business users interact directly with database applications, which directly access the database data. Answer: False Level: moderate Page: 8 In database processing systems, business users interact directly with the DBMS, which directly accesses the database data. Answer: False Level: moderate Page: 8 In database processing systems, business users interact directly with database applications that interact with the DBMS, which directly accesses the database data. Answer: True Level: moderate Page: 8

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20.

In a database processing system, the DBMS processes queries. Answer: False Level: easy Page: 8 In a database processing system, rules are processed by the database management system (DBMS). Answer: True Level: easy Page: 8 A rule that prevents data from being written in one table unless appropriate related data already exists in another table is called a referential integrity constraint. Answer: True Level: hard Page: 8 The description of a databases structure that is stored within the database itself is called the metadata. Answer: True Level: easy Page: 9 A database is called self-describing because it reduces data duplication. Answer: False Level: moderate Page: 9 In a database processing system, stored procedures are held by the database management system (DBMS). Answer: False Level: moderate Page: 9 An index can be used to improve the performance of the database. Answer: True Level: hard Page: 9 When the structure of a data entry form or a report is part of a database, it is called application metadata. Answer: True Level: moderate Page: 9 Multi-user databases are less complicated than single-user databases because the work is distributed to many people. Answer: False Level: moderate Page: 13 Multi-user databases are more complicated than single-user databases because they must prevent one users work from interfering with anothers. Answer: True Level: easy Page: 13

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30.

Large organizational databases were the first applications of database technology. Answer: True Level: moderate Page: 14 The phases of building a database system are the requirements, design, implementation and application phases. Answer: False Level: easy Page: 16 Building the data model is a function of the requirements phase of building a database system. Answer: True Level: easy Page: 17 A data model is a logical representation of the structure of the database. Answer: True Level: easy Page: 17 Writing stored procedures is a function of the design phase of building a database system. Answer: True Level: easy Page: 18 We design tables and relationships during the application phase of building a database system. Answer: False Level: moderate Page: 18 Creating constraints is a function of the implementation phase of building a database system. Answer: True Level: moderate Page: 18 We write stored procedures and triggers during the implementation phase of building a database system. Answer: True Level: moderate Page: 18 Business information systems that stored groups of records in separate files were called file processing systems. Answer: True Level: moderate Page: 20 The relational model was first proposed in 1970 by E. F. Codd at IBM. Answer: True Level: moderate Page: 21 One impact of the migration of DBMS products from mainframes to microcomputers was the loss of an intuitive interface. Answer: False Level: hard Page: 21

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41.

Business organizations have resisted adopting object-oriented database systems because the cost of purchasing OODBMS packages is prohibitively high. Answer: False Level: hard Page: 22 Databases can be combined with Internet technologies to publish database data on the Web. Answer: True Level: easy Page: 22

42.

Multiple Choice Questions

43. Which of the following is a problem of lists that is solved by using a database? a.) data inconsistencies b.) problems adding data c.) problems deleting data d.) missing data e.) All of the above.

Level: easy Page: 3 New Whatcom Library Checkout List Name Card Number
Joe Smith Sara Jones Sam Archer Sam Archer Joe Smith 123-450201 123-450217 123-450326 123-450326 123-450201

Book
How To Garden Some Good Fiction How To Build Things More Good Fiction More How To Garden

Due Date
09/12/20xx 09/12/20xx 09/15/20xx 09/15/20xx 09/17/20xx

44.

Given the New Whatcom Library Checkout List shown above, if Sam Archer's card is lost and the card number shown must be replaced we must be careful to change each occurrence of the number or else we will have a . a.) data inconsistency problem b.) data addition problem c.) data deletion problem d.) missing data problem e.) None of the above.

Level: moderate Page: 3

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New Whatcom Library Checkout List Name Card Number

Joe Smith Sara Jones Sam Archer Sam Archer Joe Smith 123-450201 123-450217 123-450326 123-450326 123-450201

Book
How To Garden Some Good Fiction How To Build Things More Good Fiction More How To Garden

Due Date
09/12/20xx 09/12/20xx 09/15/20xx 09/15/20xx 09/17/20xx

45.

Given the New Whatcom Library Checkout List shown above, if Some Good Fiction is lost and must be removed from the list, all information about Sara Jones will also be removed. This is an example of a . a.) data inconsistency problem b.) data addition problem c.) data deletion problem d.) missing data problem e.) None of the above.

Level: moderate Page: 3

New Whatcom Library Checkout List Name Card Number

Joe Smith Sara Jones Sam Archer Sam Archer Joe Smith 123-450201 123-450217 123-450326 123-450326 123-450201

Book
How To Garden Some Good Fiction How To Build Things More Good Fiction More How To Garden

Due Date
09/12/20xx 09/12/20xx 09/15/20xx 09/15/20xx 09/17/20xx

46.

Given the New Whatcom Library Checkout List shown above, if a new book named Still More Good Fiction is purchased by the library it will not appear in the list until it is checked out. This is an example of a . a.) data inconsistency problem b.) data addition problem c.) data deletion problem d.) missing data problem e.) None of the above.

Level: moderate Page: 3

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Chapter 1 - Introduction to Database Processing

New Whatcom Library Checkout List Name Card Number

Joe Smith Sara Jones Sam Archer Sam Archer Joe Smith 123-450201 123-450217 123-450326 123-450326 123-450201

Book
How To Garden Some Good Fiction How To Build Things More Good Fiction More How To Garden

Due Date
09/12/20xx 09/12/20xx 09/15/20xx 09/15/20xx 09/17/20xx

47.

Given the New Whatcom Library Checkout List shown above, there is no way to know if the borrowers owe fines for past due books. This is an example of a . a.) data inconsistency problem b.) data addition problem c.) data deletion problem d.) missing data problem e.) None of the above.

Level: moderate Page: 3 48. A properly constructed database can be described as a list that has been broken up into a group of pieces, each of which has a single "theme" or purpose. Breaking the list into these pieces is done using a process called . a.) database construction b.) table making c.) componentization d.) normalization e.) relating

Level: moderate Page: 4 49. A properly constructed database can be described as a list that has been broken up into a group of pieces, each of which has a single "theme" or purpose. Each of these pieces is called a(n) __________ . a.) datalist b.) datafile c.) table d.) normalized list e.) normalized file

Level: easy Page: 4

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50. When a properly constructed database is constructed by breaking a list into an appropriate group of pieces, of the problems associated with lists are solved. a.) many b.) all except the data addition problem c.) all except the data deletion problem d.) all except the data inconsistency problem e.) b and c Level: easy Page: 4 51. In order to connect the tables in a database, each row in each table must be identified by a(n) ________________. a.) table name b.) column name c.) unique identifier d.) common identifier e.) global identifier

Level: moderate Page: 6 52. A column that contains a unique identifier for the rows of its own table is called a(n) _______________. a.) joiner b.) relationship c.) key d.) foreign key e.) global key

Level: easy Page: 6 53. A column that contains an identifier for the rows of another table in the database is called a(n) _______________. a.) joiner b.) relationship c.) key d.) foreign key e.) global key

Level: moderate Page: 6

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54.

A program whose job is to store and retrieve user data in the database is called the __________. a.) Database Modeling System b.) Database Management System c.) Data Business Model System d.) Relational Model Manager e.) Data Business Management Service

Level: moderate Page: 6 55. The industry standard supported by all major DBMSs that allows tables to be joined together is called __________. a.) SQL - Sequential Query Language b.) SQL - Structured Question Language c.) SQL - Structured Query Language d.) RQL - Relational Question Language e.) RQL - Relational Query Language

Level: easy Page: 6 56. Which of the following are basic components of a database system? a.) the user b.) the database application c.) the database management system (DBMS) d.) the database e.) All of the above.

Level: easy Page: 7 57. In a database processing system . a.) the database application(s) interact(s) with the DBMS b.) the database application(s) access(es) the database data c.) the DBMS accesses the database data d.) a and b e.) a and c

Level: moderate Page: 7

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58.

In a database processing system, the database application a.) creates tables b.) creates queries c.) creates reports d.) a and b e.) b and c

Level: moderate Page: 8 59. In a database processing system, forms are processed by a.) the user b.) the database application c.) the database management system (DBMS) d.) the database e.) All of the above. .

Level: moderate Page: 8 60. In a database processing system, the DBMS a.) maintains database data b.) processes queries c.) processes reports d.) a and b e.) b and c .

Level: moderate Page: 8 61. In a database processing system, rules are processed by a.) the user b.) the database application c.) the database management system (DBMS) d.) the database e.) All of the above. .

Level: moderate Page: 8

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62.

In a database processing system, a rule that prevents data from being written in one table unless appropriate related data already exist in another table is called a(n) _________________. a.) key constraint b.) foreign key constraint c.) stored procedure constraint d.) referential integrity constraint e.) trigger constraint

Level: hard Page: 8 63. In a database processing system, the database a.) holds user data b.) holds metadata c.) holds indexes d.) holds stored procedures e.) All of the above. .

Level: easy Page: 9 64. A database may contains a.) tables b.) metadata c.) indexes d.) application metadata e.) All of the above. .

Level: moderate Page: 9 65. In a database processing system, stored procedures are held by a.) the user b.) the database application c.) the database management system (DBMS) d.) the database e.) All of the above. .

Level: moderate Page: 9

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66.

A database is considered self-describing because a.) all the users data is in one place b.) it reduces data duplication c.) it contains a description of its own structure d.) it contains a listing of all the programs that use it e.) All of the above.

Level: easy Page: 9 67. An index can be used to . a.) document the structure of the database itself b.) improve the performance of the database c.) reduce data dependency for application programs d.) better represent the users perspectives of the data e.) All of the above.

Level: hard Page: 9 68. When the structure of a data entry form or a report is part of a database, it is called a.) user data b.) metadata c.) indexes d.) application metadata e.) None of the above. .

Level: moderate Page: 9 69. Multi-user databases . a.) allow more than one concurrent user b.) must keep one users work from interfering with anothers c.) allow each user to make changes independently d.) both a and b e.) both a and c

Level: moderate Page: 13

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70.

The first applications of database technology were _______________. a.) Internet databases b.) workgroup databases c.) organizational databases d.) personal databases e.) file-processing systems

Level: moderate Page: 14 71. For database systems needing to support approximately 15 concurrent users within an organization, which type of database would be appropriate? a.) Internet databases b.) workgroup databases c.) organizational databases d.) personal databases e.) both a and d

Level: moderate Page: 16 72. For database systems needing to support approximately 2 trillion bytes of data within an organization, which type of database would be appropriate? a.) Internet database b.) workgroup database c.) organizational database d.) personal database e.) None of the above.

Level: hard Page: 16 73. Which of the following is not a phase of building a database system? a.) requirements b.) design c.) implementation d.) application e.) All of the above are phases of building a database system.

Level: easy Page: 16

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74.

Which of the following is not a function of the requirements phase of building a database system? a.) build the data model b.) create tables c.) specify data items d.) define constraints and rules e.) All of the above are functions of the requirement phase.

Level: moderate Page: 17 75. During which development phase of building a database system do we build the data model? a.) requirements b.) design c.) implementation d.) application e.) All of the above.

Level: easy Page: 17 76. A data model is . a.) a logical representation of the structure of the database b.) shown as an entity-relationship diagram c.) transformed into tables and relationships d.) a and b e.) All of the above.

Level: moderate Page: 17-18 77. Which of the following is not a function of the design phase of building a database system? a.) design tables b.) design relationships c.) specify constraints d.) write stored procedures e.) All of the above. are functions of the design phase

Level: moderate Page: 18

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78.

During which development phase of building a database system do we design tables and relationships? a.) requirements b.) design c.) implementation d.) application e.) All of the above.

Level: easy Page: 18 79. Which of the following is not a function of the implementation phase of building a database system? a.) specify data items b.) create tables c.) create relationships d.) create constraints e.) All of the above are functions of the implementation phase.

Level: moderate Page: 18 80. During which development phase of building a database system do we write stored procedures and triggers? a.) requirements b.) design c.) implementation d.) application e.) All of the above.

Level: easy Page: 18 81. The predecessor of database processing was a.) file processing b.) hierarchical models c.) network models d.) relational data model e.) All of the above. were predecessors of database processing .

Level: easy Page: 20

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82.

The relational model a.) was first proposed in 1970 b.) was developed by E. F. Codd c.) was developed at IBM d.) resulted in the DBMS product DB2 e.) All of the above.

Level: easy Page: 21 83. Modern microcomputer DBMS products . a.) are not truly relational b.) provide easy to use interfaces c.) have poor response time d.) are not true DBMS products e.) are really just programming languages with generalized file-processing capabilities

Level: easy Page: 21 84. Business organizations have resisted adopting object-oriented database systems because . a.) object-oriented programming uses simplified data structures that fit easily into relational databases b.) the cost of purchasing OODBMS packages is prohibitively high c.) the cost of converting data from relational databases to OODBMSs is too high d.) most large organizations have older applications that are not based on object oriented programming e.) both c and d

Level: moderate Page: 22 85. For database development, the most important Web-related technology to emerge in recent years is: a.) FTP. b.) HTTP. c.) XML. d.) OODBMS. e.) All of the above.

Level: hard Page: 22

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Fill in the Blank Questions

86. The purpose of a database is to Level: easy Page: 2 87. help people keep track of things .

Breaking a data list into these pieces with a single "theme" or purpose is done using a process called normalization . Level: moderate Page: 4 88. A properly constructed database can be described as a list that has been broken up into a group of pieces, each of which is called a table . Level: easy Page: 4 89. When a properly constructed database is constructed by breaking a list into an appropriate group of pieces, many of the problems associated with lists are l solved . Level: moderate Page: 4 90. In order to connect the tables in a database, each row in each table must be identified by a(n) unique ID . Level: moderate Page: 5 91. A column that contains a unique identifier for the rows of its own table is called a(n) key . Level: moderate Page: 5 92. A column that contains an identifier for the rows of another table in the database is called a(n) foreign key . Level: moderate Page: 5 93. It is the job of a program called a(n) retrieve data in database tables. Level: easy Page: 6 94. database management system (DBMS) to store and

The industry standard supported by all major DBMSs that allows tables to be joined together is called Structured Query Language (SQL) . Level: moderate Page: 6

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95.

In database processing systems, the data is directly accessed only by the system (DBMS) . Level: moderate Page: 8 96.

database management

In database application processing systems, the user interacts directly with the application programs . Level: moderate Page: 8 97. In a database processing system a database application interacts with the database management system (DBMS) . Level: moderate Page: 7 98. In a database processing system, queries are created by the database application programs . Level: moderate Page: 8 99. In a database processing system, forms are processed by the database application programs . Level: easy Page: 8 100. In a database processing system, tables are created by the database management system (DBMS) . Level: easy Page: 8 101. In a database processing system, rules are processed by the database management system (DBMS) . Level: moderate Page: 8 102.

database

A rule that prevents data from being written in one table unless appropriate related data already exist in another table is called a(n) referential integrity constraint . Level: hard Page: 8 103. A(n) Level: easy Page: 9 database is a self-describing collection of related records.

104. Data about the structure of a database is Level: easy Page: 9

metadata .

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105. A(n) Level: hard Page: 9

index

is used to improve the performance of the database.

106. When the structure of a form or report is part of the database it is called application metadata . Level: hard Page: 9 107. A single-user database that is used by only one person at a time is called a(n) personal database. Level: moderate Page: 11 108. A database that is used by more than one person at a time is called a(n) Level: moderate Page: 13 109. Organizational Level: hard Page: 14 110. multi-user database.

databases were the first applications of database technology.

A(n) workgroup database is characterized by having 25 or fewer concurrent users and 100 megabytes or less of data. Level: hard Page: 16 111. The phases of building a database system are the phases. Level: easy Page: 16 112. Building the data model is a function of the a database system. Level: easy Page: 17 113. A data model Level: easy Page: 17 requirements, design and implementation

requirements

phase of building

is a logical representation of the structure of the database.

114. Writing stored procedures is a function of the Level: moderate Page: 18 115. We design tables and relationships during the Level: easy Page: 18

design

phase of building a database system.

design

phase of building a database system.

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116.

Creating constraints is a function of the building a database system. Level: moderate Page: 18 117.

implementation

phase of

We write stored procedures and triggers during the of building a database system. Level: moderate Page: 18 118.

implementation

phase

The first business information systems stored groups of records in separate files and were called file-processing systems . Level: easy Page: 20 119. The relational Level: easy Page: 21 120. database model was developed by E. F. Codd at IBM.

One impact of the movement of database technology from mainframes to microcomputers was the dramatic improvement in DBMS user interfaces . Level: moderate Page: 21 121. Object-oriented database systems were developed to handle the structures processed by object-oriented programming (OOP) . Level: easy Page: 22 122. For database development, the most important Web related technology to emerge in recent years is XML . Level: hard Page: 22

Essay Questions
123. Why can't databases be implemented as lists? When a database is implemented as a list, the data is subject to four possible problems: data inconsistencies, data deletion problems, data addition problems and missing data . Data inconsistencies occur when changes to a data value that appears more than once in the list are not made to all occurrences of the value. For example, if the same phone number appears twice, but only one of those values is changed, a data inconsistency has occurred. Data deletion problems occur because in order to delete some data values in a row the entire row must be deleted, and some data that were not originally meant to be deleted are also deleted. Addition problems occur when we have some data we want to add to the list, but cannot until additional associated data is obtained. Finally, the list has no data entry rules to ensure that all necessary data is entered in the list, and we may end up with missing data.

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124.

Describe a database processing system. A database processing system has four components: the user, the database application, the database management system (DBMS) and the database. The user interacts with the database application, which interacts with the DBMS, which controls the database. The functions of the database application include creating and processing forms, creating and transmitting queries and creating and processing reports. The DBMS creates databases, tables and supporting structures, manages database data, enforces rules and provides security. The database stores the user data, the database metadata, indexes, triggers, stored procedures and application metadata.

125.

Why do we say a database is self-describing and why is this an advantage? A database is considered self-describing because it contains a description of its own structure within the database itself. This description is called the metadata, and it is stored in specialized tables in relational databases. The advantage is that the database is self-documenting, and that a knowledgeable user or a database designer can easily access the metadata. All DBMS vendors provide tools to access the metadata within their products.

126.

Define and discuss the phases of database development. The three phases of database development are the requirements, design and implementation phases. Database application development is considered to be a separate development process, and the same three phases apply to it. During the requirements phase of database development, the data model is built, data items are specified, and constraints and rules are developed. During the design phase, tables, relationships, indexes, constraints, stored procedures and triggers are all designed. During the implementation phase, the tables, relationships and constraints are created, the stored procedures and triggers are written, data is entered into the database, and, finally, the database is tested.

127.

Briefly describe the history of database processing. The predecessor of database processing was file processing, where data were maintained in sequential lists on magnetic tape. Database processing as we know it today became possible with the availability of direct access disk storage in the 1960s. Using this storage, both the hierarchical data model and then the network data model were developed. In 1970, E. E. Codd of IBM proposed the relational model, which is the standard model used today. Current DBMSs such as DB2, Oracle and SQL Server are based on the relational model. More recent events include the appearance of microcomputer based DBMSs, the introduction of Object Oriented DBMSs (OODBMSs), and the development of tools such as XML to allow the use of database systems over the Internet.

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