School of Computer Sciences, USM, Penang

CMT221/CMM222: Database Organization and Design

Tutorial 02 – Normalization

Question 1:
What is normalization?

Question 2:
What three data anomalies are likely to be the result of data redundancy? How can such anomalies be
eliminated?

Question 3:
When is a table in BCNF?

Question 4:
The following dependency diagram indicates that authors are paid royalties for books which they write to a
publisher.

ISBN PublisherCode PublisherName AuthorNum LastName BookTitle Royalty

a. Based on the dependency diagram, create a database which the tables are at least in 2NF, showing the
dependency diagram for each table.
b. Create a database which the tables are at least in 3NF, showing the dependency diagram for each table.

Question 5:
The following dependency diagram illustrates that a patient can receive many prescriptions for one or more
medicines over time. Based on the dependency diagram, create a database which the tables are at least in 2NF.
You must show the dependency diagram for each table.

MedName PatientID Date PatientName ShelfLife Dosage

Page | 1 CMT221/CMM222: Database Organization and Design (Tutorial 02)

LSY, NAA, TJS
Question 6:
Given the following dependency diagram:

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5

a. Identify and discuss each of the indicated dependencies.

b. Create a database which the tables are at least in 2NF, showing the dependency diagrams for each table.
c. Create a database which the tables are at least in 3NF, showing the dependency diagrams for each table.

Question 7:
Given the STUDENT table structure as follows:

Attribute Name Sample Value Sample Value Sample Value Sample Value

STU_NUM 211343 200128 199876 223456

STU_LNAME Stephanos Smith Jones McKulski

STU_MAJOR Accounting Accounting Marketing Statistics

DEPT_CODE ACCT ACCT MKTG MATH

DEPT_NAME Accounting Accounting Marketing Mathematics

DEPT_PHONE 4356 4356 4378 3420

COLLEGE_NAME Business Admin Business Admin Business Admin Arts & Sciences

ADVISOR_LNAME Grastrand Grastrand Gentry Chen

ADVISOR_OFFICE T201 T201 T228 J331

ADVISOR_BLDG Torre Building Torre Building Torre Building Jones Building

ADVISOR_PHONE 2115 2115 2123 3209

STU_GPA 3.87 2.78 2.31 3.58

STU_HOURS 75 45 117 87

STU_CLASS Junior Sophomore Senior Junior

a. Draw its dependency diagram and identify all dependencies (including all transitive dependencies).
b. Using the initial dependency diagram drawn in question 7a, normalize the structure to meet the 3NF
requirements to the greatest practical extent. If you believe that practical considerations dictate using
a 2NF structure, explain why your decision to retain 2NF is appropriate. If necessary, add or modify
attributes to create appropriate determinants and to adhere to the naming conventions.
c. Using the results of question 7b, draw a Crow’s Foot ERD.
d. Using the results of question 7b, draw a Chen ERD. Compare the Chen solution with Crow’s Foot
solution.
~~END OF TUTORIAL 02~~

Page | 2 CMT221/CMM222: Database Organization and Design (Tutorial 02)

LSY, NAA, TJS