Systems and methods for storing and accessing data. A relation store may be used to store algebraic relations between data sets. Alternative collections of algebraic relations may be generated and evaluated to determine an optimized collection of algebraic relations to use in calculating and providing a requested data set. Optimization criteria may be based on an estimate of the amount of data required to be transferred and/or the amount of time required to transfer data sets from storage in order to calculate the collection of algebraic relations. The optimization criteria may distinguish among equivalent data sets containing the same logical data in different physical formats or in different locations. The optimization may be performed using the algebraic relations rather than retrieving underlying data sets from storage. As a result, optimization may be performed at processor speeds to minimize the amount of time required for data to be retrieved.