In transforming an ER model to a relational schema, each entity type is typically represented as which relational structure?
-
Atuple
-
Btable
-
Cattribute
-
Dfile
-
Eview
Answer
Correct Answer: table
Explanation
Introduction / Context:ER modeling precedes relational design. The standard mapping is straightforward: entities become tables; attributes become columns; and relationships become foreign keys (or associative tables). Understanding this mapping accelerates consistent, maintainable schemas.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- An ER diagram defines one or more entity types with attributes.
- Target platform is a relational DBMS.
- We want a normalized first-cut schema.
Concept / Approach:An entity becomes a table. Each table carries columns corresponding to the entity's attributes and a primary key that implements the entity's identifier. Relationships translate into foreign keys or, for many-to-many, into separate associative (junction) tables.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Enumerate entities in the ER model.Create a table for each entity with an appropriate primary key.Map attributes to columns and relationships to foreign keys or associative tables.Verification / Alternative check:Review that each table aligns to a single theme (3NF-friendly) and that all relationships are representable via keys.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Tuple: A tuple is a row, not an entire entity set.
- Attribute: Attributes become columns, not standalone entities.
- File: A storage concept outside relational modeling.
- View: A derived, virtual table; entities map to base tables.
Common Pitfalls:Combining multiple entities in one table creates update anomalies. Keep one entity per table to maintain clarity and normalization.
Final Answer:table