Question

The user “JiaT75” inserted a backdoor in a tool for this task that was caught by Microsoft developer Andres Freund in March 2024. Kolmogorov complexity can be conceptualized as measuring an optimal form of this process. (10[1]-5[1])Inputs for this task can be preprocessed by the Burrows–Wheeler transform, which arranges “similar” characters together. One algorithm for this task uses symbol frequencies to construct a prefix tree. (10[1])A family of algorithms for this task is named for Abraham Lempel and Jacob Ziv. (10[2])Shannon’s source coding theorem bounds the efficiency of this process. (-5[1])Huffman codes can be used to perform a “lossless” form of this task. (10[1])For 10 points, name this process that decreases the number of bits needed to store information, (10[1])which can (10[1])create .zip files. ■END■ (10[2])

ANSWER: data compression [or word forms; accept lossless data compression or lossy data compression; accept data decompression or word forms; accept LZ compression or LZW compression or Huffman compression; prompt on Huffman coding or encoding or word forms until “source coding” is read] (The first line refers to the XZ Utils backdoor.)
<Other Science>
= Average correct buzz position

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Buzzes

PlayerTeamOpponentBuzz PositionValue
Matthew WestPurdue AWashU B3510
Jiping FangUIUC DWashU C35-5
Alex AkridgeIndiana ANotre Dame6410
Yash MandaviaUIUC BIndiana B7910
Ezra SantosUChicago APurdue C7910
Logan MathisSIUE AUChicago B89-5
Davis JohnsonPurdue DWashU D10210
Reilly MelvillePurdue BMiami11810
Sam HewittWashU CUIUC D12010
Jack CaseyUIUC CNorthwestern A12410
Liam StarnesUChicago BSIUE A12410