Topics on the final Exam

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TOPICS ON THE FINAL (Thursday, December 8, 2-5 PM)

  Entity-Relationship data model 
  Relational data model 

  Relational algebra
  Relational calculus 
  SQL
  QBE

  Views
  Integrity constraints
  Functional dependencies
  Relational algebra equivalencies and Armstrong's Axioms
  Canonical closures
  Relational database design and normalization
   
  Query processing and optimization 
  Transaction processing and concurrency 
  Database security
  Recovery (and checkpoint + log file protocols)
  Distributed databases

  Object-oriented databases

  Natural language interfaces
     (at a somewhat basic level - if you
      you attended Friday's class you should
      have no problem).

  PL/SQL or MySQL stored procedures
        (it should be clear that *you* did HW3
            and are personally familiar with the
            basics of the language and
            MySQL's web interface protocols)

The midterm exam is a good example of the type and format of 
problems that will be on the first portion of the exam.

Homework #4 (the exam-review-based homework) is a good
example of the type and format of problems that will
be on the 2nd portion of the exam.

As on the midterm exam, the final will be closed-book
and closed-note but you will be allowed to bring
*2* double-sided sheets of notes (US 8.5x11 paper sized) -
which has 4 written-on surfaces but should be on 2 physical pages.

You can of course use your midterm review sheet as one
of these, and many people find it easier to write out
their notes on 4 sheets and simply staple or tape them back-to-back.

For the most part, however, the exam is not about
memorization but about problem solving, design and understanding
of basic concepts. If you feel comfortable with expressing
complex queries in SQL and both did and understood HW3,
and feel like you can answer midterm-type questions on
the additional topics in the class you should do fine.

The exam shouldn't be too difficult and everyone should
have time to finish.

ROOM: Hackerman B-17 (our normal classroom)

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