Questions from Grover – p.148

1. What is a database? 

A database is an organised collection of data.

2. What is the most important function of a database?

The most important function of a database is to find and search data.

3. What are the advantages of using a database?

• Easy and fast to sort information
• Easy and fast to find information
• Easy and fast to store information
• Keeps records of information in a easy to use format

4. The table below contains data about some books in a library. What other data might be included in a library’s database about its books?

• Date the booked published
• Number of copies available
• Number of copies out on borrowing

  5. What items of data would be relevant for a database in a supermarket?

• bar-code
•  number of products left
• number of products bought
• type of product (groups such as fruit and dairy)
• price of each of product 

6. You would expect a video hire shop to have a computerized database. What is the advantage of this from the owner’s viewpoint? How would it benefit the customer?

It would be a lot easier than to go and find each copy of the movie, but with a database you can find the exact amount out on the shelves. The owned would also be able to find if there is any copies lost or not - returned or over-due and a list of the contact details will appear up. It would benefit the customer because if they wanted to know if there was any copies left of a popular movie they would be able to find out instantly

7. How would you find out about available flights to Europe for the next school holidays?

You will be able to check the net on sites such as webjet and flight centre. This information is coming from the companies database.