Database Concepts, Data Types, and Metadata – Lecture Review

58 question-and-answer flashcards covering data types, structured vs. unstructured data, multimedia databases, metadata properties, basic quantitative reasoning, and quadratic-equation fundamentals.

What type of data is a small business owner's customer contact database containing names, addresses, and phone numbers?

Structured data

Which description best defines structured data?

Data stored in a tabular form, including numeric, character, and date data types

Why is the data in the small business owner's database considered structured?

Because it is stored in a tabular form and includes specific data types like names, addresses, and phone numbers

How many bytes are in 1 petabyte (PB)?

10^15 bytes

How many bytes are in 3 petabytes?

3 × 10^15 bytes

What data types are represented by a photo image, a sound recording, and a scanned image in a database?

Photo image, sound recording, and scanned image (multimedia data)

Do photo, sound, and scanned image data types fit into traditional tabular forms?

No, they do not fit into traditional tabular forms

What type of data includes multimedia elements such as images, sound, and video?

Unstructured data

Is a database containing a photo image, sound recording, and scanned image structured or unstructured?

Unstructured data

What is the traditional definition of data?

Facts concerning objects and events that could be recorded and stored on computer media

In an automobile repair shop scenario combining customer records with multimedia files, what types of data are involved?

Both structured and multimedia data

Combining structured data with multimedia data in a database results in what kind of environment?

A true multimedia environment

How many terabytes (TB) are in 3 petabytes (PB)?

3000 TB

Why might a database of several terabytes contribute to complexity?

Because several terabytes of data often involve complex data management and processing

Why does data variety add complexity to decision support databases?

Decision support applications require sophisticated analysis and integration of various data types

Considering size and variety, why is a multi-terabyte decision support database considered complex?

The combination of large size and the need for complex data analysis makes it complex

Are the raw facts "Smith, John A. – 123456789; Doe, Jane B. – 987654321" processed or contextualized?

No, they are raw and unprocessed

Do those raw facts increase a user’s knowledge?

No, they do not increase knowledge

Are those raw facts data or information?

Data

What is the first step to transform the facts "Brown, Alice M.–112233445; Green, Bob C.–556677889" into information?

Identify the raw data provided

What context could be added to turn those facts into information?

Identify them as a class roster for a particular course

Which structured presentation of those student records increases user knowledge?

Brown, Alice M. – Student ID: 112233445; Green, Bob C. – Student ID: 556677889

What is the total enrollment for courses A (30), B (25), and C (40)?

95 students

Which course has the highest enrollment among A, B, and C?

Course C

Which graphical representation best summarizes the enrollment data?

Bar chart

Based on enrollments, what might be a potential need for Course C?

Additional resources or faculty

Given data for students Wilson and Thompson, what additional item is needed to make it useful to a course instructor?

Course names

Which statement correctly adds context and structure to Wilson and Thompson’s data?

Wilson, Emma J. – Student ID: 334455667 – Course: Math 101; Thompson, David K. – Student ID: 998877665 – Course: Physics 202

Total number of courses taught by Drs. Smith (3), Johnson (2), and Lee (4)?

9

Which faculty member has the highest workload?

Dr. Lee

What percentage of total courses does Dr. Johnson teach (2 out of 9)?

22.22%

What is an appropriate summary statement of the faculty course data?

Dr. Smith teaches 3, Dr. Johnson 2, Dr. Lee 4; total 9 courses; Dr. Lee has the highest workload, which may require adjustment

What is the quadratic formula for ax^2 + bx + c = 0?

x = [−b ± √(b^2 − 4ac)] / (2a)

For 2x^2 − 4x − 6 = 0, what is the discriminant value?

64

What are the roots of 2x^2 − 4x − 6 = 0?

x = 3 and x = −1

What is the sum of those roots?

2

What is the product of those roots?

−3

What is the correct metadata length property for “Student Name”?

50

What is the correct metadata source for “Course Code”?

Academic Unit

What is the correct metadata description for “Student Name”?

Full name of the student

What is the data type metadata for “Course Code”?

Alphanumeric

For “Student ID” metadata, which property is missing or inconsistent?

Min

For “GPA” metadata (Decimal, Length 4, Min 0.0, Max 4.0), which properties are missing or inconsistent?

None

Which GPA value violates metadata constraints (0.0–4.0)?

4.5

Which Student ID value violates metadata constraints (Integer, Length 9)?

12345678 (8 digits)

Which definition correctly specifies metadata for “Course Title”?

Name: Course Title; Type: Alphanumeric; Length: 100; Description: The title of the course; Source: Academic Unit

Which definition correctly specifies metadata for “Enrollment Count”?

Name: Enrollment Count; Type: Integer; Length: 3; Min: 0; Max: 999; Description: Number of students enrolled in the course; Source: Registrar

What is the data type of the “Major” data item?

Alphanumeric

What is the length of the “Major” data item?

4

What is the description of the “Major” data item?

Student major

What is the source of the “Major” data item?

Student Information System

Why is managing metadata crucial for database designers and users?

It provides essential context about the data, such as its source, meaning, and usage

How does metadata help avoid data misinterpretation?

By distinguishing between similar data items and ensuring they are interpreted correctly

What is the best description of metadata?

Data about data

Which item is an example of descriptive metadata?

File title

Which type of metadata is used to manage and control data?

Administrative metadata

What is the primary purpose of structural metadata?

To provide information about the format and structure of data files

Which of the following is NOT a common use of metadata?

Increasing data redundancy