Prerequisite – Armstrong’s Axioms in Functional Dependency in DBMS
Armstrong mentioned that rules 1 through 3 have completeness along with soundness. Armstrong axioms are sound as they do not generate any incorrect Functional Dependencies and it allows us to generate the F+ closure.
The proof of Soundness –
Set of functional dependencies that can be derived with logic from a given set of functional dependencies (Fclosure) and the set of functional dependencies that can be inferred from Armstrong’s Axioms (Farmstrong) are same. In terms of sets, if we want to show equality, then we mention that one is a proper subset of the other. Hence, we need to prove that,
Farmstrong is a proper subset of Fclosure for soundness.
This means that all things derived from F after applying Armstrong’s Axioms are correct functional dependencies and this property is called Soundness.
Consideration for Soundness –
In each step we would apply the rules of reflexivity, augmentation and transitivity.
(If we derive from Axioms which are only 3 in number, the repeated application of them would also give similar results.)
Rule of Reflexivity –
This rule states that if E is a proper subset of G, then G implies E (
Rule of Augmentation –
This rule states that for
If ta and tb have the same corresponding values in G and Z (GZ),
It would mean that they have same corresponding value for G,
which would mean that they have same corresponding value for E, since G implies E,
it would also mean that they correspond to E and Z (EZ).
Rule of Transitivity –
This rule states that if
If ta and tb have the same corresponding values in G
which would mean that they have same corresponding value for E, since G implies E holds,
it would also mean that they correspond to E, since E implies Z holds.
So, applying these 3 rules will always give rise to correct functional dependencies (even if we apply them m number of times).
Hence proved.