Why do multi-valued attributes imply 1:M relationships?

In summary, multi-valued attributes represent a set of values that can have multiple instances for a single entity, implying a one-to-many (1:M) relationship. The difference between a multi-valued attribute and a 1:M relationship is that a multi-valued attribute can have multiple values for a single instance of an entity, while a 1:M relationship refers to a relationship between two entities where one entity can have multiple instances of the other entity. A multi-valued attribute cannot have a 1:1 relationship as it represents a set of values and not a single value. Multi-valued attributes can complicate database design as they require additional tables to properly represent the 1:M relationship, potentially leading to a more complex database structure and
  • #1
EdmureTully
20
0
I don't understand why they do, because it doesn't necessarily mean that one tuple is tied to several instances of the multi-valued attributes from another table.
 
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  • #2

1. Why do multi-valued attributes imply 1:M relationships?

Multi-valued attributes represent a set of values that can have multiple instances for a single entity. This implies a one-to-many (1:M) relationship because each instance of the entity can have multiple corresponding values in the multi-valued attribute.

2. What is the difference between a multi-valued attribute and a 1:M relationship?

A multi-valued attribute is an attribute that can have multiple values for a single instance of an entity. On the other hand, a 1:M relationship refers to a relationship between two entities where one entity can have multiple instances of the other entity.

3. Can a multi-valued attribute have a 1:1 relationship?

No, a multi-valued attribute cannot have a 1:1 relationship because it represents a set of values and not a single value. A 1:1 relationship implies that each instance of one entity is related to only one instance of another entity.

4. How do multi-valued attributes affect database design?

Multi-valued attributes can complicate database design as they require additional tables to properly represent the 1:M relationship. This can lead to a more complex database structure and potentially slower performance.

5. Can multi-valued attributes be converted into separate entities?

Yes, multi-valued attributes can be converted into separate entities to represent the 1:M relationship more clearly. This is often done in database design to simplify the structure and improve performance.

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