Consider the following table schema for a student's course enrollment:

Which of the following statements correctly identifies the highest normal form that this table currently satisfies?

Correct option is A

1. First Normal Form (1NF):
· The table is in 1NF because all the columns contain atomic values, and there are no repeating groups.
2. Second Normal Form (2NF):
· To be in 2NF, the table must be in 1NF and all non-key attributes must be fully functionally dependent on the primary key.
· In this case, CourseName, InstructorName, and InstructorDept are dependent on CourseID, not on the composite primary key (StudentID, CourseID). This indicates partial dependency.
3. Third Normal Form (3NF):
· For 3NF, the table must be in 2NF and all the non-key attributes must be non-transitively dependent on the primary key.
· The table is not in 3NF because InstructorDept is transitively dependent on the composite key through InstructorName.
4. Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF):
· For BCNF, every determinant must be a candidate key.
· The table is not in BCNF as it does not even satisfy 2NF.
5. Fourth Normal Form (4NF):
· 4NF involves multi-valued dependencies, which this table does not have. The table must first satisfy BCNF before it can be considered for 4NF.
Important Key Points:
1. 1NF: Ensures that the table structure allows each column to hold atomic, indivisible values.
2. 2NF: Eliminates partial dependencies by ensuring all non-key attributes are fully dependent on the entire primary key.
3. 3NF: Removes transitive dependencies, ensuring that all attributes are directly dependent on the primary key.
4. BCNF: A stricter version of 3NF where every determinant must be a candidate key.
Knowledge Booster:
1. Normalization: The process of structuring a relational database to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity by dividing the database into tables and defining relationships among them.
2. Functional Dependency: Understanding the concept of functional dependency is crucial for normalization as it helps identify the relationships between attributes.
3. Normal Forms: There are various normal forms, each with its own set of rules to ensure data integrity and reduce redundancy:
· 1NF: Ensures atomicity of data.
· 2NF: Eliminates partial dependencies.
· 3NF: Removes transitive dependencies.
· BCNF: Ensures every determinant is a candidate key.
· Higher Normal Forms (4NF, 5NF): Deal with more complex types of dependencies.