relational databases are backed by relational algebra, an actual formal math definition. You can prove theorems like the output of Query X is equal to the outpu

relational databases are backed by relational algebra, an actual formal math definition. You can prove theorems like the output of Query X is equal to the output of Query Y, but Query Y is likely to run faster so that is what we will run You can't outdate math (you can outdate math notation though, finding better ways to express the same information). To be fair SQL is not 100% relational algebra compatible, but it is close enough