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Integrity Constraints and Normal Forms

GATE CSE 2026 Set 2 · Q42

MCQ2 marksMedium

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In the context of schema normalization in relational DBMS, consider a set F of functional dependencies. The set of all functional dependencies implied by F is called the closure of F. To compute the closure of F, Armstrong's Axioms can be applied. Consider X,Y,X, Y, and ZZ as sets of attributes over a relational schema. The three rules of Armstrong's Axioms are described as follows. Reflexivity: If Y⊆XY \subseteq X, then X→YX \to Y Augmentation: If X→YX \to Y, then XZ→YZXZ \to YZ for any ZZ Transitivity: If X→YX \to Y and Y→ZY \to Z, then X→ZX \to Z The additional rule of Union is defined as follows. Union: If X→YX \to Y and X→ZX \to Z, then X→YZX \to YZ It can be proved that the additional rule of Union is also implied by the three rules of Armstrong's Axioms. Listed below are four combinations of these three rules. Which one of these combinations is both necessary and sufficient for the proof ?

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Official answer: D) Augmentation and Transitivity

Integrity Constraints and Normal Forms

To derive the Union rule (X→YX \to Y and X→Z  ⟹  X→YZX \to Z \implies X \to YZ) using Armstrong's axioms:

  1. Given X→YX \to Y, apply the Augmentation rule with attribute set XX:

    XX→XY  ⟹  X→XYXX \to XY \implies X \to XY
  2. Given X→ZX \to Z, apply the Augmentation rule with attribute set YY:

    XY→YZXY \to YZ
  3. From X→XYX \to XY and XY→YZXY \to YZ, apply the Transitivity rule:

    X→YZX \to YZ

Thus, only Augmentation and Transitivity are used in this proof, and both are required. Reflexivity is not needed.

Therefore, the minimal (necessary and sufficient) set of rules required for the proof is Augmentation and Transitivity, corresponding to option (D).

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This Integrity Constraints and Normal Forms previous year question is Q42 of the GATE CSE 2026 Set 2 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 in GATE CSE

Integrity Constraints and Normal Forms has 30 GATE CSE PYQs across 20 papers from 2011 to 2026. 7 of them are 2-mark MCQs like this one, and it is the only one in GATE CSE 2026 Set 2.

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In the context of schema normalization in relational DBMS, consider a set F of functional dependencies. The set of all functional dependencies implied by F is called the closure of F. To compute the closure of F, Armstrong's Axioms can be applied. Consider X, Y, and Z as sets of attributes over a relational schema. The three rules of Armstrong's Axioms are described as follows. Reflexivity: If Y ⊆ X, then X → Y Augmentation: If X → Y, then XZ → YZ for any Z Transitivity: If X → Y and Y → Z, then X → Z The additional rule of Union is defined as follows. Union: If X → Y and X → Z, then X → YZ It can be proved that the additional rule of Union is also implied by the three rules of Armstrong's Axioms. Listed below are four combinations of these three rules. Which one of these combinations is both necessary and sufficient for the proof ?

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