1. A method of incrementally maintaining algebraic functions in automatic summary tables (ASTs) of at least one relational database, said method comprising: associating a work area with each algebraic function in each AST; populating variables within each work area for each algebraic function when each AST is created and when each AST is updated; maintaining each work area by adding and subtracting to and from associated variables of each work area when associated data changes in said relational database; and computing each algebraic function.