To what percent are text files compressed?

Question

I have a question in computer class that i can't answer, the question is:

Text files, such as word files, are compressed approximately ______ percent, while Powerpoint files are compressed by approximately _______ percent.

a) 30,70 b) 25,75 c) 90,10 d)80,20

Answer 1

Compression doesn't happen in Word/Powerpoint files.

You wouldn't have a compression, unless placed in a Zipped or other compressed folder.

And ask your teacher "How can you compress a words?"

Answer 2

The best I can do without trial and error or knowing outright is to offer that the first number is higher than the second. Probably much higher.

I find the question a bit confusing. Usually, when I speak of text files, I mean files using a bare, simple character set and with no formatting characters, pictures, etc. of any kind. Maybe not even any tab characters. "Word" files (as in Microsoft Word) are not that and would not compress nearly so much as a pure text file.

Compression generally works by replacing large repetitive sections of a file with smaller markers that represent the larger sections. When they are later uncompressed, the repetitive sections are restored to their original size and content. This is why simpler files compress more. A PowerPoint file, due to its complicated content, would be expected to have many fewer regions where the data could be substituted with a substantially smaller marker.

Answer 3

This question isn't really accurate, but as RPK notes the second number is going to be much smaller than the first number.

Additionally, 90% is incredibly high and 10% incredibly low.  I'd have to go with D (80/20) and tests roughly concur. [1]