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Explain normalisation with multivalued dependencies. Explain with proper example
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Normalization with multivalued dependencies (MVDs) is a process in database design aimed at
reducing redundancy and ensuring data integrity. It typically involves organizing a database into
tables in such a way that dependencies are properly maintained.
Definitions
1. Multivalued Dependency (MVD): A multivalued dependency exists when one attribute
multiple values independent of the first. Formally, if 𝐴A and 𝐵B are attributes in a
in a table uniquely determines another attribute, and the second attribute can have
relation 𝑅R, then 𝐴A multivaluedly determines 𝐵B (denoted as 𝐴↠𝐵A↠B) if
for each value of 𝐴A, there are multiple values of 𝐵B, and these values are
independent of other attributes in the relation.
2. Fourth Normal Form (4NF): A relation is in 4NF if it is in Boyce-Codd Normal Form
(BCNF) and has no non-trivial multivalued dependencies.
Example
Initial Table
Consider a table Course_Enrollment:
Student_ID Course Instructor
1 Math Dr. Smith
1 Science Dr. Johnson
2 Math Dr. Smith
2 History Dr. Brown
Analyzing Multivalued Dependencies
In this table:
Student_ID multivaluedly determines Course (one student can take multiple courses).
Student_ID multivaluedly determines Instructor (one student can have multiple
instructors).
𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡_𝐼𝐷↠𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒Student_ID↠Course
Thus, we can express:
𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡_𝐼𝐷↠𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟Student_ID↠Instructor
Normalization to 4NF
To normalize this table to 4NF, we need to separate the multivalued dependencies into distinct
tables.
1. Create a Student_Course Table:
Student_ID Course
1 Math
Student_ID Course
1 Science
2 Math
2 History
2. Create a Student_Instructor Table:
Student_ID Instructor
1 Dr. Smith
1 Dr. Johnson
2 Dr. Smith
2 Dr. Brown
Result
Now, the database is in 4NF, as we have eliminated the multivalued dependencies. Each table
focuses on a single aspect of the relationship:
The Student_Course table reflects the courses a student is enrolled in.
The Student_Instructor table shows the instructors associated with each student.
Summary
Normalization involving multivalued dependencies helps in organizing data to prevent anomalies
and redundancy. By separating the data into tables that adhere to the rules of 4NF, we maintain
data integrity and improve the efficiency of database operations.