Let r be a relation instance with schema R = (A, B, C, D). Define r1 =…

2005

Let r be a relation instance with schema R = (A, B, C, D).

Define r1 = πA,B,C(r) and r2 = πA,D(r). Let S = r1 ⋈ r2, where denotes natural join.

Given that the decomposition of R into r1 and r2 is lossy, which one of the following is true?

  1. A.

    S ⊂ R

  2. B.

    R ∪ S

  3. C.

    R ⊂ S

  4. D.

    R ⋈ S = S

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Correct answer: C

  • When a relation is projected into smaller relations and then joined back, the original tuples are always present in the join. So R is a subset of S.

  • A lossy decomposition means the join produces extra/spurious tuples. Therefore, S contains more tuples than R.

  • Hence the strict containment is R ⊂ S, not S ⊂ R.

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