Which of the following tuple relational calculus expression(s) is/are…
2008
Which of the following tuple relational calculus expression(s) is/are equivalent to 

- A.
I only
- B.
II only
- C.
III only
- D.
III and IV only
Attempted by 54 students.
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Correct answer: C
Answer: Only the expression ¬∃t ∈ r (¬P(t)) is equivalent to ∀t ∈ r P(t).
Reason:
Apply the standard quantifier negation equivalence: ∀x φ ↔ ¬∃x ¬φ.
Using this, ∀t ∈ r P(t) is equivalent to ¬∃t ∈ r ¬P(t), which matches the third expression.
The expression ¬∃t ∈ r (P(t)) is equivalent to ∀t ∈ r (¬P(t)) and therefore is the negation of the target, not equivalent to it.
Any expression that quantifies over tuples not in r (for example, ∃t ∉ r (P(t)) or ∃t ∉ r (¬P(t))) talks about tuples outside the relation and is unrelated to the universal claim about tuples inside r.
Therefore, only ¬∃t ∈ r (¬P(t)) is equivalent to ∀t ∈ r P(t).
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