DA0-002 Data Concepts and Environments Practice Question
A database administrator is designing a normalized database to reduce data redundancy. They have a table with columns: OrderID, ProductID, ProductName, and Quantity. The table is currently in 1NF. To move to 2NF, which issue must be resolved?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA Data+ often tests the distinction between partial dependencies (2NF) and transitive dependencies (3NF), so candidates mistakenly choose a transitive dependency when the real issue is a partial dependency on a composite key.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
ProductName depends only on ProductID, causing a partial dependency
To move from 1NF to 2NF, the table must have no partial dependencies. A partial dependency occurs when a non-key attribute depends on only part of a composite primary key. Here, the composite key is (OrderID, ProductID). ProductName depends only on ProductID, not on the full key, so it is a partial dependency. Option A (repeating groups) is a violation of 1NF, not 2NF, and the table is already in 1NF. Option C is incorrect because Quantity depends on both OrderID and ProductID (it is fully functionally dependent on the composite key). Option D is incorrect because a transitive dependency (where a non-key attribute depends on another non-key attribute) is a 3NF issue, not 2NF. Therefore, the correct answer is B.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The table has repeating groups
Why it's wrong here
Repeating groups violate 1NF, which the table already satisfies, so this is not the 2NF issue. 2NF addresses partial dependencies of non-key attributes on part of a composite primary key; here ProductName depends only on ProductID.
- ✓
ProductName depends only on ProductID, causing a partial dependency
Why this is correct
ProductName depends only on ProductID, not on the full composite key (OrderID, ProductID), which is a partial dependency violating 2NF. Resolving it means moving ProductName into a separate Products table keyed by ProductID, leaving Quantity and OrderID in the order line table.
- ✗
Quantity depends on both OrderID and ProductID
Why it's wrong here
Quantity depending on both OrderID and ProductID is exactly what 2NF requires, since it is a non-key attribute fully dependent on the whole composite key. This option describes the correct state, not a violation needing resolution.
- ✗
The table has a transitive dependency
Why it's wrong here
Transitive dependency is a 3NF violation, where a non-key column depends on another non-key column. In 2NF the target is partial dependency: a non-key attribute depending on only part of a composite primary key, such as ProductName relying on ProductID alone rather than the full OrderID-ProductID key.
Visual reference
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DA0-002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DA0-002 exam.