Course contents

Refreshing, extension and formalization of basic concepts and mathematics from earlier courses: Relational algebra, tupel calculus, and domain calculus. Different key concepts. Functional dependencies, axioms and deduction rules for these. Lower normal forms, theorems and proofs concerning normal forms. Algorithms for normalization.

General dependencies: Multi-valued dependencies, join dependencies, axioms and deduction rules for these.

Higher normal forms: Theorems and proofs. Algorithms for normalization to higher normal forms.

Transitive closures and their use: Connection to the normal forms. Algorithms to compute transitive closures and for the verification of normalized structures.

Formalization of non-normalized structures: Extensions and generalizations of the relational model and the formalizations related to it.

Introduction to models: The relational model, the nested relational model, functional and logical models, object models. The mathematical foundation for the different models. Generalization of the concept of a model.

Optimization: Mathematical principles for query optimization. Cost functions.

Intended learning outcomes

The goals of the course are to give the students

• deeper knowledge of relational algebra and relational calculus, functional dependencies, normal forms, and optimization of queries to a relational database system
• knowledge of and proficiency in using set-valued dependencies, join dependencies, higher normal forms, transitive closures and their use, and formalization of non-normalized structures
• give an introduction to different generalizations of the concept of models, formalization of the different generalizations of the concept of models, and cost calculations when optimizing queries to a relational database system

so that they will

• have a solid theoretical foundation in database handling systems and their applications,
• be able to apply the mathematical theories on real database systems.

Course Disposition

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Specific prerequisites

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Recommended prerequisites

One of the courses 2I1100/IV1008 Information Systems and Databases and 2D1334/DD1334 Database Technology or the equivalent.

Equipment

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Literature

Reading list available at the department. Previous year: P. Atzeni & V. De Antonellis: Relational database theory, Benjamin/Cummings.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

• LAB1 - Assignments, 6,0 hp, betygsskala: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

In this course all the regulations of the code of honor at the School of Computer science and Communication apply, see: http://www.kth.se/csc/student/hederskodex/1.17237?l=en_UK.

Other requirements for final grade

Assignments (LAB1; 6 university credits).

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

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Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

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Examiner

Kjell Lindqvist

Ethical approach

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Course web

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Offered by

CSC/Computer Science

Main field of study

Computer Science and Engineering, Information Technology, Information and Communication Technology

Education cycle

Second cycle

Add-on studies

Please discuss with the instructor.

Contact

Kjell Lindqvist, tel: 790 6276, e-post: kjellq@nada.kth.se

Supplementary information

The course is given every second year.