By the use of cyclic symmetry, KK relations and BCJ relations, one can reduce the number of independent $N$-point color-ordered tree amplitudes in gauge theory and string theory from $N!$ to $(N-3)!$. In this paper, we investigate these relations at tree-level in both string theory and field theory. We will show that there are two primary relations. All other relations can be generated by the primary relations. In string theory, the primary relations can be chosen as cyclic symmetry as well as either the fundamental KK relation or the fundamental BCJ relation. In field theory, the primary relations can only be chosen as cyclic symmetry and the fundamental BCJ relation. We will further show a kind of more general relation which can also be generated by the primary relations. The general formula of the explicit minimal-basis expansions for color-ordered open string tree amplitudes will be given and proven in this paper.
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