DA0-002 Data Concepts and Environments Practice Question
A database has a table that violates 2NF because it contains a composite primary key and some attributes depend only on part of that key. Which normal form would be violated next if the table is not addressed?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is that candidates may think 'next violated' means the next higher normal form after the current violation, but they might incorrectly pick 3NF as the answer because the table already violates 2NF. However, the correct reasoning is that since 2NF is already violated, the next normal form that would be violated is indeed 3NF, not 2NF again.
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
✓
3NF
The table already violates 2NF. If not addressed, it will never satisfy 2NF, but the question asks which normal form would be violated next if the table is not addressed. Since 2NF is already violated, the next normal form in sequence that will be violated is 3NF, because the table will fail to meet 3NF requirements (e.g., transitive dependencies) while still being stuck at a 2NF violation. Therefore, 3NF is the next normal form that would be violated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
2NF
Why it's wrong here
2NF is already violated; the question asks for the next normal form that would be violated, not the current one.
- ✗
BCNF
Why it's wrong here
BCNF is not the next violation; 3NF comes before BCNF.
- ✓
3NF
Why this is correct
Correct. Because the table violates 2NF, it cannot achieve 2NF, so the next normal form in sequence (3NF) will also be violated if the issue is not fixed.
- ✗
1NF
Why it's wrong here
1NF is assumed to be satisfied; the problem starts at 2NF.
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