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GATE CS 2024 Set 2 — Question 20

MCQ+1 / -0.33EasyWeak EntitiesER ModelDatabases

Databases → ER Model → Weak Entities

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Question

In the context of owner and weak entity sets in the ER (Entity-Relationship) data model, which one of the following statements is TRUE?
A.
The weak entity set MUST have total participation in the identifying relationship
B.
The owner entity set MUST have total participation in the identifying relationship
C.
Both weak and owner entity sets MUST have total participation in the identifying relationship
D.
Neither weak entity set nor owner entity set MUST have total participation in the identifying relationship

Correct answer

(A) The weak entity set MUST have total participation in the identifying relationship

Solution

In an Entity-Relationship (ER) model:
  • A weak entity set is an entity set that does not have a primary key of its own and depends on the existence of a strong entity set (owner entity set) for its identification.
  • The relationship associating the weak entity set with the owner entity set is called the identifying relationship.
  • A weak entity set must have total participation in the identifying relationship because a weak entity cannot exist without its owner entity.
  • The owner entity set does not necessarily need to have total participation in the identifying relationship (it can exist without the weak entity).
Therefore, the statement "The weak entity set MUST have total participation in the identifying relationship" is TRUE.

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