Describe the process of eliminating transitive dependencies in a database.

The process of eliminating transitive dependencies in a database involves the normalization of the database schema. Transitive dependencies occur when a non-key attribute depends on another non-key attribute, rather than directly on the primary key.

To eliminate transitive dependencies, we can follow the steps of normalization, specifically the third normal form (3NF) and the Boyce-Codd normal form (BCNF).

1. Identify the functional dependencies: Analyze the data and determine the functional dependencies between attributes. A functional dependency is a relationship between two sets of attributes, where the value of one set determines the value of the other set.

2. Apply the first normal form (1NF): Ensure that each attribute in a table contains only atomic values and there are no repeating groups. This step involves breaking down multi-valued attributes into separate tables.

3. Apply the second normal form (2NF): Ensure that each non-key attribute is fully functionally dependent on the entire primary key. If any non-key attribute depends on only a part of the primary key, it should be moved to a separate table along with the part of the primary key it depends on.

4. Apply the third normal form (3NF): Eliminate transitive dependencies by ensuring that each non-key attribute depends only on the primary key and not on any other non-key attribute. If a non-key attribute depends on another non-key attribute, it should be moved to a separate table along with the attribute it depends on.

5. Apply the Boyce-Codd normal form (BCNF): This is an extension of the third normal form and ensures that every determinant (attribute that determines the value of another attribute) is a candidate key. If any determinant is not a candidate key, it should be moved to a separate table along with the attribute it determines.

By following these normalization steps, we can eliminate transitive dependencies and create a well-structured and efficient database schema. This process helps in reducing data redundancy, improving data integrity, and facilitating easier data maintenance and updates.