Download Databases, Data Warehouses and Data Mining

Midterm Review Outline
(Midterm: Mar 3 Mon, 7:00-9:00PM, CS 127)
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Overview on data, information, and knowledge
Introduction to DBMS
DB design concepts and E-R model approach
Relational data model and relational algebra
SQL: DB query and data manipulation
Schema refinement: FDs and normal forms
CSCI2140 Winter 2008
1
Overview on Data, Information, and
Knowledge (note1.1-1.3)
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Data, information, and knowledge
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How to distinguish data, information, and knowledge, and which of them
are explicitly stored in a relational database?
Why relational database is also called operational database?
What is the general goal of information systems ?
Why enterprises need two types of information process to their
business data?
From which expects we can say DBMS is designed for supporting dayby-day based information process?
Empirical cycle of scientific research
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What are the basic stages of the empirical cycle for scientific research in
terms of data, information, knowledge, and in which stage the knowledge is
applied for doing what?
Why is the process in an endless cycle (i.e. why everything that science
discovers has only temporary value)? How does this affect to the
management and process of data, information and knowledge?
CSCI2140 Winter 2008
2
Introduction to DBMS
(book-Ch1, note1.1-1.3, Ass1)
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What are DBMS and DBS, and the purpose of each?
Schemas, instances, data independence
Multi-level abstractions (schemas) of DBs
Basic functional components of DBMS
What is the main differences between a file processing system
and DBMS? Why DBMS is more advanced (i.e. advantages)?
Why relational database model is widely used than other
database models (what they are and limitations)?
What are the main differences between operational information
process and analytical information process?
CSCI2140 Winter 2008
3
Database Design and E-R Model
(book-Ch2, note2.1-2.2, Ass1)
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DB conceptual design using E-R Model approach
Entity/weak-entity types
Relationship types, binary vs. unary and ternary etc
Cardinality constraints: many-to-one, one-to-many, etc
Participation types, roles
Key concepts (super-key, candidate key, primary key etc)
How to design and draw an E-R diagram
How to map a DB design from an E-R model into relations
Main phases of database design
CSCI2140 Winter 2008
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Relational Model and Relational
Algebra (book-Ch3, note3.1-3.3, Ass2)
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Structure of relational DB
Data integrity constraints
Relational algebra: the typical operations
Know how to define queries using basic relational
algebra operations, and get results
Database modification
Null data type (why we need it and the potential
problems)
Views
Database schema diagram
CSCI2140 Winter 2008
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SQL
(book-Ch5, note4.1-4.3, Ass2, Ass3)
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Basic SQL clause structures
Mapping of relational algebra operations to SQL clauses
Write SQL expression of English queries
Set operations, nested SQL queries
Aggregate functions
Null values
Derived relations
Views
Database modification
Joined relations
CSCI2140 Winter 2008
6
Schema Refinement and Normal Forms
(book-Ch4, note5.1-5.2, Ass3)
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Why schema refinement in DB design?
What problems may occur without schema refinement?
The procedure of schema refinement
FD analysis, closure of F, reasoning on FDs
Decomposition method, lossless-join decomposition,
dependency preservation
Normal forms: BCNF, 3NF, 2NF, and 1NF, why BCNF/3NF are
ofen used
Difference between BCNF and 3NF
Good Luck!
CSCI2140 Winter 2008
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