1. If in a Question it says that find minimum number of tables and doesn't say anything that it should satisfy 1nf or 2nf then what we should consider by default while finding the minimum number of tables in the ER Diagram.
And Please Verify The Below Statements and point if i am wrong somewhere:-
The Rules of merging the tables 2 tables :
a) For many to many it is only possible if we have total participation corresponding to that .Further entities in both sides can be merged if we have total participation both sides.
b) For many to one or one to many , we can merge the "many" side with the relationship .If in "one" side we have total participation we can merge that entity as well
c) For one to one we can merge the relationship with any .However if in any side we have total participation , then entities can be combined as well.
d) For weak relationship , we can merge only the total participation side only.Even if there is total participation on the strong entity side , we cannot merge although this should not happen because weak relationship is between weak entity and weak relationship and the participation will be total this side.Also cardinality of strong to weak entity is "one to many".