8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of: automatically generating a plurality of access plans that each correspond to the query after dropping at least one tautological predicate.
5. A method for executing a query that references a database table, the method comprising the steps of: (A) dropping at least one tautological predicate from the query; (B) determining whether a corresponding access plan exists for the query with the at least one dropped tautological predicate; (C) if the a corresponding access plan exists, using the corresponding access plan to execute the query; and (D) if no corresponding access plan exists for the query with the at least one dropped tautological predicate, generating a corresponding access plan and using the corresponding access plan to execute the query.