Well, no. 5,000 is actually a bargain, given that we're measuring file lengths in BYTES instead of bits. In order to technically compress the data, you have to reduce the file length by EIGHT bits, not one. With truly random data, you'll only do that 1/256 of the time. Hence, the break-even prize offer is 25,600 dollars. So 5,000 is really lucrative. And then add in the fact that the nature of the contest requires ADDING data to the original file; the decompressor size is also counted. So in order to profit, you have to be able to reduce the file size by 8 bits + the bitlength of the decompressor. The odds of winning are extremely remote.
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Well, no. 5,000 is actually a bargain, given that we're measuring file lengths in BYTES instead of bits. In order to technically compress the data, you have to reduce the file length by EIGHT bits, not one. With truly random data, you'll only do that 1/256 of the time. Hence, the break-even prize offer is 25,600 dollars. So 5,000 is really lucrative. And then add in the fact that the nature of the contest requires ADDING data to the original file; the decompressor size is also counted. So in order to profit, you have to be able to reduce the file size by 8 bits + the bitlength of the decompressor. The odds of winning are extremely remote.