DATABASE SYSTEMS
GROUP QUESTIONS
GROUP ONE
1. A hospital manages patient data using tables: Patients, Doctors, and Appointments. Each
appointment links a patient and a doctor through foreign keys.
a) Describe how the relational model structures this data. How do primary and foreign keys
ensure data integrity in this scenario?
b) Identify the type of relationship (one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many) between:
- Patients and Appointments
- Doctors and Appointments
Explain.
c) Write an SQL query to retrieve the names of patients and their corresponding doctors
for appointments scheduled on a given date.
GROUP TWO
2. A microfinance institution previously used a file processing system where customer, loan,
and repayment details were stored in separate text files. After facing challenges such as data
duplication and inconsistency, it decided to adopt a database approach.
a) Compare the file processing approach and the database approach using this case study.
b) Explain two challenges the institution likely faced with the file processing approach.
c) Describe two advantages the database approach will offer once implemented.
d) Suggest one suitable database model for the new system and justify your choice.
GROUP THREE
3. A local public library wants to digitize its operations. Currently, it keeps manual records of
books, members, and borrowed books in large register books. The management wants to
shift to a computerized system to manage book inventories, member registrations, and
borrowing details efficiently.
a) Using this scenario, define what a database is in your own words.
b) Identify possible entities and attributes that should exist in the library database.
c) Explain how a database management system (DBMS) would improve the efficiency of
the library compared to manual record-keeping.
GROUP FOUR
4. A large insurance company uses a three-tier DBMS architecture with client applications, a
middle-tier server, and a backend database.
a) Discuss each tier in this architecture.
b) Define logical data independence and physical data independence and illustrate each
with examples from this case.
c) What advantages does a three-tier architecture provide to the company?
GROUP FIVE
5. A developer is tasked with building a school management system. They need to design the
database, populate it with data, and allow teachers to query student performance.
a) Identify and explain the four major database languages used in a DBMS.
b) Give an example SQL command for each language category.
c) How do these languages work together to maintain and control database operations?
GROUP SIX
6. A hospital database stores data about patients, doctors, and wards. Each patient is assigned
to a ward and attended by one or more doctors.
a) Define the terms entity, attribute, and entity set in the context of this case.
b) Distinguish between simple, composite, and derived attributes using examples from this
hospital scenario.
c) Identify one possible key attribute for each entity and justify your choice.
d) Draw a ERD diagram for this case
GROUP SEVEN
7. A supermarket uses a database containing the following table:
• Products(ProductID, ProductName, Category, Price, Quantity)
The database clerk needs to perform daily operations like inserting new products, updating
prices, and deleting discontinued items.
a) Define Data Manipulation Language (DML) and list its main commands.
b) Write SQL commands for the following operations:
- Insert a new product named “Blue Band” in the “Groceries” category with a price of
250 and quantity 40.
- Update the price of “Blue Band” to 270.
- Delete all products with quantity less than 5.
c) Write an SQL statement to display all products in the “Groceries” category, sorted by
price in descending order.
d) Explain why DML operations must often be followed by transaction control (e.g.,
COMMIT, ROLLBACK).