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

Difficulty: Easy

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.

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion