CSE255 Midterm Exam Advice and Hints

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CSE255 Midterm Exam Advice and Hints
Prof. Steven A. Demurjian, Sr. Computer Science
Engineering Department The University of
Connecticut 371 Fairfield Way, Box U-2155 Storrs,
CT 06269-2155
steve_at_engr.uconn.edu http//www.engr.uconn.edu/st
eve (860) 486 - 4818
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Hints for Taking Exam

• Read the Questions Carefully!
• Ask Questions if you are Confused!
• Answer Questions in Any Order
• Organized to fit on minimum number of pages
• Answer Easiest questions for you!
• Assess Points per Time Unit
• 75 minutes 75 points
• 15 points 15 minutes
• For Essay/Short Answer Questions - Length Answer
  Matches Points
• 5 points 1/4 page 3 or 4 sentences
• 30 points - if 1/4 page - likely few points!
• Exam Designed to be Longer than 75 Minutes!

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Hints for Taking Exam

• Don't Define Concepts
• E.G., Ask About Concept X, Don't Explain Concept
  X, Just Answer the Question and I'll Know If You
  Know Concept X
• Don't Panic, Read and Review Course Materials
  Prior to Exam!
• Don't Be Afraid to Not Answer a Question
• 60 Correct for 100 Points 60 Points
• 90 Correct F0r 80 Points 72 Points
• Partial Credit Is the Norm
• If I Ask You to Pick and Analyze a Concept - for
  a 5 Pt Problem You Get 1 for the Concept and 4
  for the Analysis.

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Possible Questions

• Open Notes, Book, and Online (Web)
• 5 Total Questions
• Possibilities
• Constructive and Algorithm Questions
• Relational Algebra and SQL
• Defining Concepts and Understanding Their
  Significance
• Problem Solving
• Know your Algorithms and Constructs
• Show All Work to Receive Partial (Any) Credit
• Do Not Jump to Final Answer
• Avoid Run-on Explanations
• Covered Material - See Remaining Slides!

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Covered Material for Exam

• No Questions on
• Chapter 1 and 2, Chapter 8 (SQL)
• Chapter 3 ER Model
• Conceptual Database Design
• Chapter 4 Extended ER Model
• Extension with Inheritance and other Features
• Chapter 7 Relational Model and Algebra
• Chapter 9 ER Model to Relational Model
  Translation
• Detailed Algorithm for Translation
• Chapter 14 FDs and Normalization
• Guidelines for Good Design
• Functional Dependencies
• Normalization/Normal Forms

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Chapters 3 and 4 ER and EER

• Chapter 3 ER Model
• Conceptual Database Design
• Basic ER Concepts
• 1-1, 1-m, and m-n Relationships
• Chapter 4 Extended ER Model
• Extension with Inheritance
• Understanding the Differences and their Usage of
• Disjoint vs. Overlapping
• Specialization vs. Generalization
• Constraints Partial and Disjoint
• Categories
• Focus on Understanding Various ER and EER
  Concepts and Constructs

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Chapters 3 and 4 ER and EER

• No Questions on
• Min/Max Notation (slides 31-33 of
  cse255chap3and4.pps)
• ER Complications (slides 45-55 of
  cse255chap3and4.pps)
• Recursive Relationship
• Multiple Relationships Between Two Entity Types
• Participation Constraints (Existence Constraints)
• Strong and Weak Entities
• Relationships Among More than two Entity Types
• Connection Traps
• Simplification Techniques

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Chapter 7 Relational Model and Algebra

• Covered Material
• Definition of a Relation
• Relation Algebra Including Select, Project, Join,
  Theta-Join, Natural Join, Union, Intersection,
  etc.
• Key Concepts (Superkey, Candidate key, etc.)
• Referential Integrity
• Equivalence of Various Relational Operations
• No Questions
• Insert, Delete and Modify Operations on Relations
  Slides 36-43 of cse255chap7.pps
• Semi and Outer JoinSlides 86-89 of
  cse255chap7.pps

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Chapter 8 SQL DDL and DML

• NO QUESTIONS!
• Covered Material
• Ability to write SQL DML Statements
• Basic SELECTS
• Nested SELECTS
• SELECTS with EXISTS/NOT EXISTS
• UNION-Based SELECTS
• AGGREGATE Operations
• SET-Oriented SELECTS (IN/NOT IN)
• ANY RETRIEVE STATEMENT
• No Questions on topics in cse255chap8.pps
• DDL (CREATES) (slides 14-54, 105-107)
• VIEWS (slides 97-102)
• DELETE, UPDATE, INSERT (slides 92-96)
• OUTER JOIN, LEFT JOIN, etc.

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Chapter 9 ER Model to Relational Model

• Covered Material
• Detailed Algorithm for Translation
• All Eight Steps and Their Application
• For Step 8, Focus on Different Approaches that
  are Utilized to Map Different Type of EER
  Inheritance
• You are Responsible for All Slides in
  cse255chap9.pps
• Make sure that you Clearly Understand the
  Translation Process!

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Chapter 14 Functional Dependencies

• Covered Topics Include
• Four Guidelines for Good Design
• Update Anomalies (Insert, Delete, Modify)
• Functional Dependencies (FDs)
• Single and Multi-Valued Dependencies
• Ability to Define FDs for a Relational Schema
• Normal Forms and Normalization
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Normal Forms (no BCNF)