EECS-3421A
Introduction to Database Systems

York University
Fall 2016
Test #2 Preparation
 
  Coverage

Basically, Chapters 3, 5 & 6 from the textbook. We have covered the second part of the course, II. Queries. While we talked about some relational-calculus and Datalog examples, these are not covered by the test.

Only topics covered both in the reading and in class are fair game. Test #2 is not cumulative, so it does not test the topics covered by Test #1. That said, to understand the topics here, you have to have understood what came before. (For instance, you have to know the normal forms to do loseeless-join decomposition.)

  1. Normalization: Schema Refinement [Ch 3: §4&5]
    1. lossless join decomposition
    2. dependency preservation
    3. synthesis
  2. Relational Algebra [Ch 5]
    1. relational algebra operators
    2. queries
  3. SQL (Ch.5) [Ch 6: §1–5]
    1. syntax & conceptual model
    2. aggregate operators
    3. NULL values
    4. queries, queries, queries!

 
  Preparation

Go through the reading and the examples in the textbook. Consider the problems at the end of each chapter and work some of them. Go through the exercises I have provided.

 
  Policies

The test will be closed-note, closed-book. You may bring a calculator, but I cannot imagine that you would need one.

There will be space on the text packet for writing answers. I will bring extra paper, in case anyone needs it, to attach.

The test will be for the class lecture time, so 75 minutes.