Question:medium

Let \(R(A,B,C,D,E)\) be a relational schema with functional dependency set \(F = \{A \rightarrow BC,\ CD \rightarrow E,\ E \rightarrow A\}\).
Which of the following statements is correct?

Show Hint

Find which attribute never appears on the right side of any FD, that attribute must be in every candidate key. Then pair it with each other attribute and check whether the closure covers all of \(R\).
Updated On: Jul 22, 2026
  • \(AD\), \(ED\) and \(CD\) are the only candidate keys of \(R\).
  • \(AD\) and \(ED\) are the only candidate keys of \(R\).
  • \(A\), \(E\) and \(CD\) are the only candidate keys of \(R\).
  • \(A\) and \(CD\) are the only candidate keys of \(R\).
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Find which attribute must be in every key.
Look at the right-hand side of every FD in $F = \{A \to BC,\ CD \to E,\ E \to A\}$. The attributes that appear on some right side are $B$, $C$ (from $A \to BC$), $E$ (from $CD \to E$), and $A$ (from $E \to A$). $D$ never appears on the right side of any FD.
Since no FD can ever produce $D$ from other attributes, $D$ can only be present in the closure of a set if $D$ was already put into that set to begin with. So $D$ must be part of every single candidate key of $R$.

Step 2: Combine $D$ with each other attribute and test the closure.
$D$ alone gives $D^{+} = \{D\}$, too small, so we must add one more attribute to $D$ and check if that reaches all of $R$.
$\{A,D\}$: $A \to BC$ gives $\{A,B,C,D\}$, then $CD \to E$ (both $C,D$ present) gives $\{A,B,C,D,E\} = R$. So $AD$ works.
$\{C,D\}$: $CD \to E$ gives $\{C,D,E\}$, then $E \to A$ gives $\{A,C,D,E\}$, then $A \to BC$ gives $\{A,B,C,D,E\} = R$. So $CD$ works.
$\{D,E\}$: $E \to A$ gives $\{A,D,E\}$, then $A \to BC$ gives $\{A,B,C,D,E\} = R$. So $ED$ works.
$\{B,D\}$: $B$ never appears on the left of any FD, so this closure just stays $\{B,D\}$, which is not all of $R$. So $BD$ does not work.

Step 3: Check minimality.
For $AD$, $CD$, $ED$ to be candidate keys and not just superkeys, no proper subset (that is, $D$ alone, or the other single attribute alone) can already reach $R$. We already know $D^{+} = \{D\}$, $A^{+} = \{A,B,C\}$, $C^{+} = \{C\}$, $E^{+} = \{A,B,C,E\}$, none of which equal $R$. So each pair is minimal.

Step 4: Conclusion.
Since $D$ must be in every key, and only pairing $D$ with $A$, $C$, or $E$ gives a closure equal to $R$, the complete list of candidate keys is exactly $AD$, $CD$, $ED$. \[ \boxed{\text{Option (A): } AD,\ ED,\ CD} \]
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