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Which one of the following statements is $\text{FALSE}$?

  1. Any relation with two attributes is in $\text{BCNF}$
  2. A relation in which every key has only one attribute is in $\text{2NF}$
  3. A prime attribute can be transitively dependent on a key in a $\text{3 NF}$ relation
  4. A prime attribute can be transitively dependent on a key in a $\text{BCNF}$ relation
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6 Answers

Best answer
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83 votes
Any relation with two attributes is in $\text{BCNF} \Rightarrow $ This is true. It is trivial

A relation in which every key has only one attribute is in $\text{2NF}\Rightarrow$ This is true. As it is not possible to have Partial Functional Dependency !

A prime attribute can be transitively dependent on a key in a $\text{3NF}$ relation $\Rightarrow$ This is true. As For $\text{3NF}$ to be violated we need something like Key $\Rightarrow$ Non Key, Non Key $\Rightarrow$ Non key. $\text{3NF}$ definition says that for functional dependency $x\rightarrow y,$ either $x$ should be key or $y$ should be prime attribute. Then we can have something like Key $\Rightarrow$ Non Key, Non key $\Rightarrow$ Prime Attribute, resulting in Transitive $\text{FD}$ on Prime Attribute, still in $\text{3NF}$.

$\text{LHS}$ must be always key, so No Transitive dependency is allowed.

Answer is D.
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16 votes
16 votes

(d)

Defn from wiki:

The 3NF version of the definition is weaker than Date's BCNF variation, as the former is concerned only with ensuring that non-key attributes are dependent on keys. Prime attributes (which are keys or parts of keys) must not be functionally dependent at all; they each represent a fact about the key in the sense of providing part or all of the key itself. (It should be noted here that this rule applies only to functionally dependent attributes, as applying it to all attributes would implicitly prohibit composite candidate keys, since each part of any such key would violate the "whole key" clause.)

8 votes
8 votes

Answer D)

A) possible. If a relation has 2 attribute, then there are 1:1 dependency,So, it will be in BCNF

B) If every key has one attribute , it must have no partial dependency. So, it will be in 2 NF

C) prime attribute can be transitively dependent on a key - i.e. key dependency will be non prime -> prime . But no non prime to non prime dependency will be there. So, it could be in 3NF

Answer:

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