OASIcs.Tannen.10.pdf
- Filesize: 0.76 MB
- 20 pages
Relational algebra operates over relations under either set semantics or bag semantics. In 2007 Val Tannen extended the semantics of relational algebra to K-relations, where each tuple is annotated with a value from a semiring. However, only the positive fragment of the relational algebra can be interpreted over K-relations. The reason is that a semiring contains only the operations addition and multiplication, and does not have a difference operation. This paper explores three ways of adding a difference operator to a semiring: as a freely generated algebra, by using the natural order, or by an explicit construction using products and quotients. The paper consists of both a survey of results from the literature, and of some novel results.
Feedback for Dagstuhl Publishing