Consider the table shown in the exhibit. Which relational algebraic operation would return Row 3?

Renata O.Jun 10, 2026

Selection is the correct answer, and here is why it makes sense once you picture what the operation actually does. Selection filters rows out of a table based on a condition you specify, so if you say "give me only the rows where the status column equals Active" or whatever the exhibit's condition is, the database engine walks through every row and hands back only the ones that satisfy that condition. Row 3 comes back because it meets the criteria, while the other rows do not. The other options do something structurally different: Projection cuts columns, not rows; Union and Difference combine two separate tables together, so neither one is picking a single row out of one table based on a condition.

Fatima Z.Jun 14, 2026

Selection is the one that grabs specific ROWS based on a condition, so think of it as a SIEVE that filters down to just Row 3, while Projection (the sneaky distractor here) cuts COLUMNS not rows. Lock in B, Selection, and never let Projection steal that answer from you.

Mei-Ling H.Jun 25, 2026

Selection is the operation that filters rows based on a condition, so pulling Row 3 specifically means you are selecting a horizontal slice of the table, which is exactly what Selection does. Projection would be tempting if you misread "Row 3" as a column operation, but Projection cuts vertically, not horizontally, so B is correct.

Wesley A.May 27, 2026

Selection filters rows based on a condition, so if you want one specific row out of a table, that is exactly what Selection does, and B is the answer. A lot of people second-guess themselves here and pick Projection because they picture "pulling something out of a table," but Projection cuts columns, not rows, so do not fall for that one.