Paul Andrei T.

Abayan March 07, 2021

BSIT 2A - NS Sir Francis Delacruz

1. Define each of the following terms:

a. data

Answer:

-Data are raw facts which constitute the building blocks of information. They have little meaning unless
they have been organized in some logical manner.

b. field

Answer:

-A character or group of characters (alphabetic or numeric) that has a specific meaning. A field is used to
define and store data.

c. record

-A logically connected set of one or more fields that describes a person, place, or thing. For example, the
fields that constitute a record for a customer might consist of the customer’s name, address, phone
number, date of birth, credit limit, and unpaid balance.

d. file

-A collection of related records. For example, a file might contain data about the students currently
enrolled at Gigantic University.

2. What is data redundancy, and which characteristics of the file system can lead to it?

Answer:

-Data redundancy exists when the same data are stored unnecessarily at different places. Having them
occur in more than one place produces data redundancy.

3. What is data independence, and why is it lacking in file systems?

Answer:

Data independence exists when it is possible to make changes in the data storage characteristics
without affecting the application program’s ability to access the data.

4. What is a DBMS, and what are its functions?

Answer:

A database management system (DBMS) is a collection of programs that manages the database
structure and controls access to the data stored in the database. In a sense, a database resembles a very
well-organized electronic filing cabinet in which powerful software, known as a database management
system, helps manage the cabinets contents.

Functions:

 Data dictionary management. The DBMS stores definitions of the data elements and their
relationships (metadata) in a data dictionary.
 Data storage management. The DBMS creates and manages the complex structures required for
data storage, thus relieving you from the difficult task of defining and programming the physical
data characteristics.
 Data transformation and presentation. The DBMS transforms entered data to conform to
required data structures. The DBMS relieves you of the chore of making a distinction between
the logical data format and the physical data format.
 Security management. The DBMS creates a security system that enforces user security and data
privacy. Security rules determine which users can access the database, which data items each
user can access, and which data operations (read, add, delete, or modify) the user can perform.
 Multiuser access control. To provide data integrity and data consistency, the DBMS uses
sophisticated algorithms to ensure that multiple users can access the database concurrently
without compromising the integrity of the database.

5. What is structural independence, and why is it important?

Answer:

Structural independence occurs when it is possible to make changes in the file structure without
affecting the application program’s ability to access the data. It is important because minor changes that
affects the file structure can be disruptive, structural independence keeps the changes at bay, and such
changes affect only parts that’s necessary.

6. Explain the difference between data and information.

Answer:

Data are raw facts, while information are processed data that bears significant meaning.

7. What is the role of a DBMS, and what are its advantages? What are its disadvantages?

Answer:

DBMS acts as the intermediary between the user and the database.

Its advantages include improved data sharing, improved data security, minimized data inconsistency,
improved data access, improved decision making and increased end user productivity.

Its disadvantages include increased cost, management complexity, maintaining currency, vendor
dependence and frequent upgrade/replacement cycles.

8. List and describe the different types of databases.

Based on the number of users:

A single user database- supports only one user at a time.

A multiuser database supports multiple user at the same time.

A desktop database is when a single-user database that runes on a personal computer.

A workgroup database is when a multiuser database supports a relatively small number of users.

An enterprise database is when a multiuser database is used by an organization that supports many
users.

Based on location:

A database that supports data located at a single site is called a centralized database.

A database that supports data distributed across several different sites is called a distributed database

9. What are the main components of a database system?

Answer:

Hardware

Software

People

Procedures

Data

10. What are metadata?

Answer:

A metadata provide a description of the data characteristics and the set of relationships that links the
data found within the database.

11. Explain why database design is important.

Answer:

A database that meets all the user requirements don’t just happen, its structure must be designed
carefully. Each database should be designed based on the specificifications needed in a specific task.

12. What are the potential costs of implementing a database system?

It is necessary to think about the hardware and software cost when trying to implement a database
system, as well as the training and management cost of the personnel that will be in-charge of the
database itself.

13. Use examples to compare and contrast unstructured and structured data. Which type is more
prevalent in a typical business environment?

Answer:

Unstructured data and structured data are both types of information management, the only difference
is that the structured data is sorted or arranged, whilst unstructured data is not.

Structured data is the more prevalent in the typical business environment since it is really well-rounded
and easy to modify.

14. What are some basic database functions that a spreadsheet cannot perform?

Answer:

Support for self-documentation through metadata.

Enforcement of data types or domains to ensure consistency of data within a column, defined
relationships among tables, or constraints to ensure consistency of data across related tables.

15. What common problems does a collection of spreadsheets created by end users share with the
typical file system?

Answer:

Lengthy development times

Difficulty of getting quick answers

Complex system administration

Lack of security and limited data sharing

Extensive programming

16. Explain the significance of the loss of direct, hands-on access to business data that end users
experienced with the advent of computerized data repositories.

Answer:

It became really quite handy for the data to be accessed remotely. It also maintains the security and
integrity of the file.
Given the file structure shown in Figure P1.1, answer Problems 1−4.

1. How many records does the file contain? How many fields are there per record?

7 records

5 fields per record

2. What problem would you encounter if you wanted to produce a listing by city? How would you
solve this problem by altering the file structure?

Data redundancy

Creating a separate table for multiple entries with different values then using a key to link the tables.

3. If you wanted to produce a listing of the file contents by last name, area code, city, state, or zip
code, how would you alter the file structure?

Use a different label in the table. The labels currently used are similar to dictionary names which can be
confusing at times. Add the fields necessary or just rename the current fields to occupy the needed
information.

4. What data redundancies do you detect? How could those redundancies lead to anomalies?

There are multiple entries of Holly B. Parker and George F. Dorts in the PROJECT_MANAGER label. There
are multiple entries of 124 River Dr. Franklin, TN 29185 and 3334 Lee Rd., Gainsville, Fl 371 in the
MANAGER_ADDRESS label.

Changing a value in a specific entry that is considered a redundant data can cause significant change to
the data entry of the same name.

5. Identify and discuss the serious data redundancy problems exhibited by the file structure shown
in Figure P1.5.

There are

Multiple entries of 1, 2, and 3 in PROJ_NUM label.

Multiple entries of Hurricane, Coast and Satellite in PROJ_NAME label.

Multiple entries of 101 and 110 in EMP_NUM label.

Multiple entries of David F, Schwarn and Anne R. Ramoras in EMP_NAME label.

Multiple entries of EE and CT in JOB_CODE label.

Multiple entries of 85.00 in JOB_CHG_HOUR label.

Multiple entries of 653-234-3245, 653-234-1123 and 615-233- 5568 in EMP_PHONE label.

Create a different format for EMP_PHONE and put it in a separate table, use a foreign key to link it.

Use a different format for the EMP_NAME label. Surname first might be handy.

7. Identify the various data sources in the file you examined in Problem 5.

The data sources would be the labels

PROJ_NUM

PROJ_NAME

EMP_NUM

EMP_NAME

JOB_CODE

JOB_CHG_HOUR

EMP_PHONE

8. Given your answer to Problem 7, what new files should you create to help eliminate the data
redundancies found in the file shown in Figure P1.5?

Create new tables that differentiates the project details and the employee details.

9. Identify and discuss the serious data redundancy problems exhibited by the file structure shown
in Figure P1.9. (The file is meant to be used as a teacher class assignment schedule. One of the
many problems with data redundancy is the likely occurrence of data inconsistencies—two
different initials have been entered for the teacher named Maria Cordoza.)

There are:

Multiple entries of KOM, LDB in BUILDING_CODE label.

Multiple entries of 204E in ROOM_CODE label. Multiple entries of Williston, Cordoza and Patroski in
TEACHER_LNAME label.

Multiple entries of Horace, Maria and Donald in TEACHER_FNAME label.

Multiple entries of L, J and G in TEACHER_INITIAL label. Multiple entries of MWF 8:00-8:50, TTh 1:00-
2:15 and TTh 9:00-10:15 in DAYS_TIME label.

10. Given the file structure shown in Figure P1.9, what problem(s) might you encounter if building
KOM were deleted?

Deletion anomaly might become a problem. It occurs when there was unintended loss of other data due
to the deletion of a data.