T-SQL Logic

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T-SQL Logic

Henrico Bekker

One Orange Chip

Points: 27652
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June 21, 2010 at 8:17 pm

#224114

Comments posted to this topic are about the item T-SQL Logic
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This thing is addressing problems that dont exist. Its solution-ism at its worst. We are dumbing down machines that are inherently superior. - Gilfoyle

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sharath.chalamgari SSCertifiable Points: 5680 More actions · Answer 1

sharath.chalamgari

SSCertifiable

Points: 5680

June 22, 2010 at 12:02 am

#1183089

simple one, just need to analyse the Query.

Hugo Kornelis SSC Guru Points: 64790 More actions · Answer 2

I hope it is not considered cheating that I did run SELECT database_id, name FROM sys.databases ORDER BY 1; before answering. I don't thik there is any need for me to know ids of system databases by head.

Other than that, the question was a bit too simple. Just the AND database_id < 2 was sufficient to determine that there would be one result, and there was only one option with one result, so there was no need at all to evaluate the CASE and POWER expressions.

Anyway, thanks for the question Henrico! Your first, I believe? Hopefully there will be more in the future!

Hugo Kornelis, SQL Server/Data Platform MVP (2006-2016)
Visit my SQL Server blog: https://sqlserverfast.com/blog/
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ziangij SSCrazy Eights Points: 8066 More actions · Answer 3

and database_id < 2

this was enough to answer the question...:-)

Henrico Bekker One Orange Chip Points: 27652 More actions · Answer 4

Hi Hugo, yes, looking at the last where statement, it was easy to determine the answer.

But, look at the wrong answer rate - 19 so far.

This question was purely to test logic when it comes to reading code, and was not intended to be a massive brain cracker 😀

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This thing is addressing problems that dont exist. Its solution-ism at its worst. We are dumbing down machines that are inherently superior. - Gilfoyle

Toreador SSChampion Points: 11368 More actions · Answer 5

I just used the len(case...) statement - since this can return only one row (master) then the answer is the one with only a single option.

john.allan-931338 Old Hand Points: 352 More actions · Answer 6

It would have been more interesting if it had read "and database_id <= 2

" which would have brought the case statement into play more.

That's the way I read it anyway. Good thing it had the same answer 🙂

Vinay Kumar SSCertifiable Points: 6099 More actions · Answer 7

Another easy point 🙂

Thanks
Vinay Kumar
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Keep Learning - Keep Growing !!!

webrunner SSC-Dedicated Points: 31888 More actions · Answer 8

I got this right! I learned my lesson from the last time - after equivocating for a minute, wondering "the choice of 1 is too easy, maybe there's a trick" - I decided that no trick was evident based on the code.

Simple question for many at SSC, I suppose. But still worth looking at and being able to explain for "lesser experts" (i.e., those of us who get too many QOTD questions wrong :-))

- webrunner

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A SQL query walks into a bar and sees two tables. He walks up to them and asks, "Can I join you?"
Ref.: http://tkyte.blogspot.com/2009/02/sql-joke.html

OCTom SSChampion Points: 11785 More actions · Answer 9

OCTom

SSChampion

Points: 11785

June 22, 2010 at 8:06 am

#1183351

And the point is?... lost on me... again.:w00t:

forjonathanwilson SSC Enthusiast Points: 139 More actions · Answer 10

there are no negative database ids 🙂

and there is no 0

thus 1 is the answer to the most obfuscated question ever!

jvanderberg SSCertifiable Points: 6762 More actions · Answer 11

Yeah, the question is overly complicated, and the answer is overly simple. The POWER() function is totally unneccessary, its fairly obvious from the WHERE clause that there's only going to be one row result. Not to mention the WHERE clause is redundant, as both branches will select the master database and only that database.

Really, I don't think it's a good question. It's complicated apparently just for the sake of being complicated. Save for learning that the database_id of the master database is always 1, no one will really actually bring anything away from this question.

--J

Toreador SSChampion Points: 11368 More actions · Answer 12

I think it's a good question - designed to make you think a bit and work out that you don't actually need to know anything about database ids in order to get it right.

Steve Cullen SSCertifiable Points: 5598 More actions · Answer 13

Nice question. Thanks.

Converting oxygen into carbon dioxide, since 1955.

Cliff Jones SSChampion Points: 10547 More actions · Answer 14

ziangij (6/22/2010)
and database_id < 2
this was enough to answer the question...:-)

Yes, if 10 would have been a possible answer it would have forced me to at least look at the rest of the Query.