Lab 5: E-R Modeling and Normalization

E-R Modeling
1. (RC Ch.4 Review Question 5, p.135)

Write the business rules that are reflected in conceptual model below.
Sample Answer

2. (RC Ch.4 Review Question 17, p.136)

Write the ten cardinalities that are appropriate for this ERD below.
Sample Answer

Note: The placement of cardinalities in Crow's ERD is reversed from that of Chen ERD.

3. (RC Ch.4 Problem 1, p.136)

Create an appropriate E-R diagram from the following business rules:

Sample Answer

i. A company operates four departments.

ii. Each department in part (i) employs employees.
iii. Each of the employees in part b may or may not have one or more dependents.
iv. Each employee in part (c) may or may not have an employment history.

4. (RC Ch.4 Problem 2, p.136)

The Hudson Engineering Group (HEG) has contacted you to create a conceptual model whose
application will meet the expected database requirements for its training program. The HEG
administrator gives you the following description of the training group's operating environment:

The HEG has 12 instructors and can handle up to 30 trainees per class. HEG offers five "advanced
technology" courses, each of which may generate several classes. If a class has fewer than 10
trainees in it, it will be canceled. It is, therefore, possible for a course not to generate any classes.
Each class is taught by one instructor. Each instructor may teach up to two classes or may be
assigned to do research. Each trainee may take up to two classes per year.

Given this information, do the following:

Sample Answer

a. Draw the E-R diagram for HEG.

b. Describe the relationship between instructor and course in terms of connectivity, cardinality,
 and existence dependence.

5. Explain the difference between single-valued attributes and simple attributes. Give an example of
each.
Sample Answer

6. (RC Ch.4 Problem 3, p.137)

Complete the above E-R diagram based on the following business rules:
Sample Answer

-- split M:N relationships into two 1:M relationships

-- indicate all cardinalities and connectivities

i.Department employs many employees, but each employee is employed by one department.
ii.Some employees, known as "rovers," are not assigned to any department.
iii.A division operates many departments, but each department is operated by one division
iv. An employee may be assigned to many projects, and a project may have many employees
assigned to it
v. A project must have at least one employee assigned to it
vi. One of the employees manages each department, and each department is managed by only
one employee.
vii. One of the employees runs each division, and each division is run by one employee.

Normalization top

7. (RC Ch.5 Review Question 6, p.175)

Sample answer

a. Identify and discuss each of the dependencies indicated in the diagram below.
b. Create a database whose tables are at least in 2NF, showing the dependency diagrams for each
table.
c. Create a database whose tables are at least in 3NF, showing the dependency diagrams for each
table.

8. (RC Ch.5 Problem 1-3, p.176)

Sample answer
 a. To keep track of office furniture, computers, printers, and so on, the FOUNDIT company uses
the table structure shown above. Draw FOUNDIT's dependency diagram and identify all
dependencies (including all partial and transitive dependencies).

Note: Item is placed in a single location. A building is managed by a single manager.

b. Starting with the dependency diagram drawn for (a), create a set of dependency diagrams that
meet 3NF requirements. Rename attributes to meet the naming conventions and create new
entities and attributes as necessary.

c. Draw the E-R diagram (showing cardinalities and connectivities).

Group Project (ongoing task list) top

Project Description deadline: see syllabus

Project Specification (initial version) deadline: see syllabus.

Database Design Overview

1. Form a project group.

2. Identify a potential project.

3. Discuss the project in general terms:

What is it? Who is it for? Why is it important? How will it work?

4. Study the client organization and the end-users.

5. Define a database plan.

6. Construct a conceptual model of the database.

i. Identify, analyze, and refine the business rule

ii. Identify the main entities
iii. Define the relationships among entities
iv. Construct a preliminary ERD
v. Define attributes, primary keys, and foreign keys for each entity
vi. Apply Normalization
 - draw dependency diagrams
vii. Update the E-R diagram.

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