Which one of the following is used to represent the supporting many-or...
The correct answer is option 'D', diamonds with double/bold border.
In an entity-relationship (ER) diagram, weak entity sets are those that cannot be uniquely identified by their own attributes. They depend on the existence of a strong entity set, called the identifying entity set, for their existence. Weak entity sets have a one-to-many relationship with the identifying entity set.
To represent the supporting many-ore relationships of a weak entity set in an ER diagram, diamonds with a double/bold border are used. These diamonds are known as relationship diamonds. They are connected to the weak entity set and the identifying entity set through a solid line.
Below is a detailed explanation of the components involved in representing the supporting many-ore relationships of a weak entity set:
1. Weak Entity Set:
- A weak entity set is represented by an oval shape.
- This oval shape has a double/bold border, indicating its weakness.
- The name of the weak entity set is written inside the oval.
2. Identifying Entity Set:
- The strong entity set that identifies the weak entity set is represented by a rectangle shape.
- The name of the identifying entity set is written inside the rectangle.
3. Relationship Diamond:
- The relationship diamond represents the supporting many-ore relationships between the weak entity set and the identifying entity set.
- It is connected to both the weak entity set and the identifying entity set through solid lines.
- The diamond has a double/bold border, distinguishing it from other relationship symbols.
4. Cardinality Notations:
- The cardinality notations indicate the cardinality of the relationship between the weak entity set and the identifying entity set.
- These notations are written near the solid lines connecting the relationship diamond to the weak entity set and the identifying entity set.
- The symbols used for cardinality notations include "1" and "N" to represent one and many, respectively.
By using diamonds with a double/bold border, the ER diagram effectively represents the supporting many-ore relationships of a weak entity set. The diagram visually depicts the dependence of the weak entity set on the identifying entity set for its existence.