Distinguish between simple, composite, and multivalued attributes; give an example.

• A. Simple attributes can be broken into smaller parts; composite attributes are indivisible; multivalued attributes can hold multiple values.
• B. Simple attributes have indivisible values; composite attributes can be broken down into smaller parts; multivalued attributes can have multiple values.
• C. Simple attributes are collections; composite attributes are single values; multivalued attributes are derived.
• D. Simple attributes have indivisible values; Composite attributes can be broken down; Multivalued attributes can hold multiple values.

Answer: (B)

In data modeling, attributes are categorized by how many values they can hold and whether they can be divided into subparts. Simple attributes are atomic, meaning their values cannot be broken down further. Composite attributes can be decomposed into smaller parts that each hold their own values, such as an address that breaks down into street, city, state, and ZIP. Multivalued attributes can hold more than one value for a single entity, like a phone number field that stores multiple numbers.

The best choice reflects these definitions: simple attributes have indivisible values, composite attributes can be broken down into smaller parts, and multivalued attributes can have multiple values. This aligns with how these attribute types are used in practice, unlike options that swap or misstate these properties (for example, suggesting simple attributes are collections or that composite attributes are indivisible).