In a relational data model, which one of the following statements is TRUE?
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GATE CSE 2022 · Q14
Time
Select one answerSingle correct
Solution
Official answer: A) A relation with only two attributes is always in BCNF.
Integrity Constraints and Normal FormsLet us evaluate each of the given options:
(A) is TRUE: Consider any relation with two attributes. The only possible non-trivial functional dependencies are , , or both. In any non-trivial dependency (such as ), the determinant is a candidate key (and thus a superkey). If there are no non-trivial dependencies, the key is . In all cases, every non-trivial FD has as a superkey. Therefore, any two-attribute relation is always in BCNF.
(B) is FALSE: If all attributes are prime, the relation is guaranteed to be in 3NF, but not necessarily in BCNF. For example, in with FDs and , candidate keys are and . All attributes are prime, but violates BCNF because is not a superkey.
(C) is FALSE: An all-key relation consists solely of prime attributes and has zero non-prime attributes.
(D) is FALSE: BCNF decomposition is always lossless, but it is not always dependency-preserving.
Hence, option (A) is the correct answer.
Try the question first, then check your work.
Examiner trap
Consider a binary relation schema and check what non-trivial functional dependencies can exist and what their left-hand sides must be.
This Integrity Constraints and Normal Forms previous year question is Q14 of the GATE CSE 2022 paper. Find more GATE CSE PYQs on Integrity Constraints and Normal Forms in Databases, or browse all GATE CSE PYQs.
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Integrity Constraints and Normal Forms has 30 GATE CSE PYQs across 20 papers from 2011 to 2026. 10 of them are 1-mark MCQs like this one, and GATE CSE 2022 has 2.
How GATE tests Integrity Constraints and Normal FormsIndependent practice explanation verified by the GateAI team. GATE is conducted by the IITs; question text follows the official paper.