Database Applications
Database Applications - Week #1 Assignment 1
Review Questions
Module 1
1.1 Define the following terms: data, database, DBMS, database system, database catalog, program-data independence, user view, DBA, end user, canned transaction, deductive database system, persistent object, meta-data, and transaction-processing application.
1.2 What four main types of actions involve databases? Briefly discuss each.
1.3 Discuss the main characteristics of the database approach and how it differs from traditional file systems.
1.4 What are the responsibilities of the DBA and the database designers?
1.5 What are the different types of database end users? Discuss the main activities of each.
1.6 Discuss the capabilities that should be provided by a DBMS.
1.7 Discuss the differences between database systems and information retrieval systems.
Module 2
2.1. Define the following terms: data model, database schema, database state, internal schema, conceptual schema, external schema, data independence, DDL, DML, SDL, VDL, query language, host language, data sublanguage, database utility, catalog, client/server architecture, three-tier architecture, and n-tier architecture.
2.2. Discuss the main categories of data models. What are the basic differences among the relational model, the object model, and the XML model?
2.3. What is the difference between a database schema and a database state?
2.5. What is the difference between logical data independence and physical data independence? Which one is harder to achieve? Why?
2.6. What is the difference between procedural and nonprocedural DMLs?
2.7. Discuss the different types of user-friendly interfaces and the types of users who typically use each.
2.8. With what other computer system software does a DBMS interact?
2.9. What is the difference between the two-tier and three-tier client/server architectures?
Submit questions and answers as a word document with any sources used on the final page.
Database Applications � Week #1 Exercise 1
Exercises
Module 1
Exercise 1.10: Specify all the relationships among the records of the database shown in Figure 1.2.
Exercise 2.13: Choose a database application with which you are familiar. Design a schema and show a sample database for that application, using the notation of Figures 1.2 and 2.1. What types of additional information and constraints would you like to represent in the schema? Think of several users of your database, and design a view for each.
Exercise 2.14: If you were designing a Web-based system to make airline reservations and sell airline tickets, which DBMS architecture would you choose from Section 2.5? Why? Why would the other architectures not be a good choice?
Perform exercises using a word document with diagrams or other items pasted in if necessary. Be sure to paraphrase and included any sources used in finding solutions. S
Figure 1.2
Figure 2.1
Section 2.5
Database Applications � Week #1 Assignment 1
Review Questions
Module 1
1.1 Define the following terms: data, database, DBMS, database system, database catalog, program-data independence, user view, DBA, end user, canned transaction, deductive database system, persistent object, meta-data, and transaction-processing application.
1.2 What four main types of actions involve databases? Briefly discuss each.
1.3 Discuss the main characteristics of the database approach and how it differs from traditional file systems.
1.4 What are the responsibilities of the DBA and the database designers?
1.5 What are the different types of database end users? Discuss the main activities of each.
1.6 Discuss the capabilities that should be provided by a DBMS.
1.7 Discuss the differences between database systems and information retrieval systems.
Module 2
2.1. Define the following terms: data model, database schema, database state, internal schema, conceptual schema, external schema, data independence, DDL, DML, SDL, VDL, query language, host language, data sublanguage, database utility, catalog, client/server architecture, three-tier architecture, and n-tier architecture.
2.2. Discuss the main categories of data models. What are the basic differences among the relational model, the object model, and the XML model?
2.3. What is the difference between a database schema and a database state?
2.5. What is the difference between logical data independence and physical data independence? Which one is harder to achieve? Why?
2.6. What is the difference between procedural and nonprocedural DMLs?
2.7. Discuss the different types of user-friendly interfaces and the types of users who typically use each.
2.8. With what other computer system software does a DBMS interact?
2.9. What is the difference between the two-tier and three-tier client/server architectures?
Submit questions and answers as a word document with any sources used on the final page.
Database Applications � Week #1 Exercise 1
Exercises
Module 1
Exercise 1.10: Specify all the relationships among the records of the database shown in Figure 1.2.
Exercise 2.13: Choose a database application with which you are familiar. Design a schema and show a sample database for that application, using the notation of Figures 1.2 and 2.1. What types of additional information and constraints would you like to represent in the schema? Think of several users of your database, and design a view for each.
Exercise 2.14: If you were designing a Web-based system to make airline reservations and sell airline tickets, which DBMS architecture would you choose from Section 2.5? Why? Why would the other architectures not be a good choice?
Perform exercises using a word document with diagrams or other items pasted in if necessary. Be sure to paraphrase and included any sources used in finding solutions. S
Figure 1.2
Figure 2.1
Section 2.5
