The primary purpose of a table in a database is to store data in a structured format. Tables consist of rows and columns, with each row representing a record and each column representing a field or attribute. Storing data in tables allows for efficient organization and retrieval of information, facilitating data management and analysis. 

Full database backups in DB2 involve backing up the entire database, capturing all data and schema information. This strategy provides the highest level of data protection as it ensures that all data is backed up, enabling complete recovery in the event of data loss or corruption. 

The key difference between the LOAD and IMPORT utilities in DB2 lies in their functionality and performance. The LOAD utility is primarily used for loading data from sequential files directly into tables in DB2. It is optimized for speed and is typically faster than the IMPORT utility. On the other hand, the IMPORT utility also loads data from sequential files into tables but offers more flexibility in terms of handling different file formats and data structures. It may be slower than the LOAD utility but provides additional features such as the ability to handle delimited and fixed-length files. 

Partitioning in DB2 refers to the division of large tables or indexes into smaller, more manageable pieces called partitions. Each partition contains a subset of the data, allowing for efficient access and management. 

Breaking down the query into smaller, manageable parts allows the developer to focus on individual components, making it easier to understand and debug. This approach also helps in optimizing the query by identifying performance bottlenecks in each part. 

Automatic failover mechanisms in DB2 are intended to ensure reliable access to data. Reliability is crucial for ensuring uninterrupted access to databases, especially in scenarios where system failures occur. 

Functional dependencies define relationships between attributes, where the value of one attribute uniquely determines the value of another. They are pivotal in normalization as they help identify candidate keys and determine the level of normalization required. 

The Database Manager Configuration is the component of DB2 responsible for managing configuration settings. It includes parameters related to memory allocation, logging, and other aspects of the database. 

DB2 employs a method of locking index pages during updates to ensure consistency between the table data and the index entries. This approach minimizes the risk of data inconsistencies and ensures that queries accessing the index return accurate results. Understanding how updates are managed in tables with indexes is crucial for optimizing performance and maintaining data integrity in DB2 environments. 

DECIMAL data type is the most suitable for storing precise monetary values in a DB2 database. DECIMAL provides exact numeric representation without any rounding or approximation issues, making it ideal for financial calculations where precision is crucial.