In relational terms, a tuple refers to which element of a relation (table)?

Database The Relational Model and Normalization Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
  • A
    column of a table.
  • B
    two dimensional table.
  • C
    row of a table.
  • D
    key of a table.

Answer

Correct Answer: row of a table.

Explanation

Introduction / Context:Terminology bridges theory and practice. The term tuple is standard in relational theory, while many tools say row or record.

Given Data / Assumptions:

  • A relation has attributes (columns) and tuples (rows).
  • Each tuple contains values for every attribute of the relation.

Concept / Approach:A tuple is a single record in the relation, represented as a row with one value per attribute.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Map theoretical terms to common terms: tuple equals row; attribute equals column.Discard options that denote the whole table or a key.Choose row of a table.

Verification / Alternative check:SQL statements like insert into table values (...) operate on tuples, i.e., rows.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Column describes an attribute, not a tuple.
  • Two dimensional table refers to the entire relation, not one tuple.
  • Key is a set of attributes used to identify tuples, not the tuple itself.

Common Pitfalls:Using record and field inconsistently; remember tuple equals row and attribute equals column.

Final Answer:row of a table.

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