OLAP fundamentals: does OLAP operate with measures and dimensions (but not “associations,” which belong to association-rule mining)?

Introduction / Context:
OLAP cubes organize numeric measures (such as sales_amount) by descriptive dimensions (such as time, product, region). “Associations” is a term used in association-rule mining (for example, market basket analysis), which is a data mining technique, not an OLAP construct.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• OLAP supports slicing, dicing, roll-up, and drill-down.
• Dimensional models include hierarchies (day → month → quarter → year).
• Association rules discover item co-occurrence patterns (e.g., {bread} ⇒ {butter}).

Concept / Approach:
The statement claiming OLAP “uses measures, dimensions and associations” blends OLAP with data mining. Correct OLAP terminology is measures and dimensions; “associations” are not an OLAP element.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Recall OLAP building blocks: facts/measures + dimension tables.Contrast with association-rule mining objectives and outputs.Conclude the statement is invalid because it mixes distinct concepts.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check OLAP tool documentation: cube definitions specify measures and dimensions; association rules live under data mining modules.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Referring to MOLAP/ROLAP or star schemas does not make associations an OLAP primitive; market basket analysis is outside OLAP core.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing “relationships between dimensions” with association rules; they are different.

Final Answer:
Invalid statement — OLAP relies on measures and dimensions; “associations” are from data mining