How many attributes in the following ER diagram are both multi-valued as well…

2018

How many attributes in the following ER diagram are both multi-valued as well as composite?

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  1. A.

    1

  2. B.

    2

  3. C.

    3

  4. D.

    4

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Correct answer: A

In an ER diagram, an attribute is composite when it has its own sub-attributes drawn as separate connected ovals, and it is multi-valued when it is drawn with a double (concentric) oval border. These are two independent properties: an attribute may have either one, both, or neither.

Scanning every attribute of EMPLOYEE in the diagram: Name is drawn with a single oval but has sub-attributes Fname, Minit, and Lname, so it is composite only. Address is drawn with a double oval but shows no sub-attributes, so it is multi-valued only. Works_on is drawn with a double oval AND has sub-attributes Project and Hours, so it satisfies both conditions at once. Every other attribute (Ssn, Sex, Salary, Department, Birth_date, Supervisor) is a plain single-oval attribute with no sub-attributes, so it satisfies neither condition.

  • Name — composite (has sub-attributes) but single-valued (single oval): fails the multi-valued test.

  • Address — multi-valued (double oval) but has no sub-attributes: fails the composite test.

  • Works_on — multi-valued (double oval) AND composite (sub-attributes Project, Hours): satisfies both conditions.

So exactly one attribute in the diagram — Works_on — is both multi-valued and composite; the correct count is 1.

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