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Question

Which of the following is true of lossy and lossless compression algorithms?
A. Lossy compression algorithms are used when perfect reconstruction of the original data is important.
B. Lossy compression algorithms are typically better than lossless compression algorithms at reducing the number of bits needed to represent a piece of data.
C. Lossless compression algorithms are only used to compress text data.
D. Lossless compression algorithms only allow for an approximate reconstruction of the original data.

Answer 1

The correct statement among the options provided is:

B. Lossy compression algorithms are typically better than lossless compression algorithms at reducing the number of bits needed to represent a piece of data.

Here’s a brief explanation for each option:

A. Lossy compression algorithms are used when perfect reconstruction of the original data is important. - This statement is false because lossy compression sacrifices some data for the sake of reducing file size, so perfect reconstruction is not possible.

B. Lossy compression algorithms are typically better than lossless compression algorithms at reducing the number of bits needed to represent a piece of data. - This statement is true; lossy algorithms achieve greater compression by removing some data considered less important, allowing for smaller file sizes compared to lossless methods.

C. Lossless compression algorithms are only used to compress text data. - This statement is false; lossless compression can be used on various types of data, including images and audio, where preserving the original quality is essential.

D. Lossless compression algorithms only allow for an approximate reconstruction of the original data. - This statement is false; lossless compression allows for the exact reconstruction of the original data without any loss of information.

In summary, option B is the only true statement.