Question 8060 – Normalization

A database of research articles in a journal uses the following schema.(VOLUME, NUMBER, STARTPAGE, ENDPAGE, TITLE, YEAR, PRICE)
The primary key is (VOLUME, NUMBER, STARTPAGE, ENDPAGE) and the following functional dependencies exist in the schema.
(VOLUME, NUMBER, STARTPAGE, ENDPAGE) → TITLE
(VOLUME, NUMBER) → YEAR
(VOLUME, NUMBER, STARTPAGE, ENDPAGE) → PRICE
The database is redesigned to use the following schemas.
(VOLUME, NUMBER, STARTPAGE, ENDPAGE, TITLE, PRICE)
(VOLUME, NUMBER, YEAR)
Which is the weakest normal form that the new database satisfies, but the old one does not?

Correct Answer: B

Journal (V, N, S, E, T, Y, P)
V – VOLUME
N – NUMBER
S – STARTPAGE
E – ENDPAGE
T – TITLE
Y – YEAR
P – PRICE
Primary key: (V, N, S, E)
FD set:
(V, N, S, E) → T
(V, N) → Y
(V, N, S, E) → P
In (V, N) → Y; V, N is a part of the key and Y is non-prime attribute.
So, it is a partial dependency.
Now, the schema “Journal” is in 1NF but not in 2NF.
The database is redesigned as follows:

Both R₁ and R₂ are in BCNF.
Therefore, 2NF is the weakest normal form that the new database satisfies, but the old one does not.