What type of compression removes inaudible sound frequencies to reduce file size while maintaining sound quality for MP3 files?

The correct answer is lossy compression, which is a method that reduces the file size by permanently eliminating certain data from the original file. In the case of MP3 files, this process involves removing inaudible sound frequencies, which are sounds that the average human ear may not detect. By discarding these frequencies, lossy compression effectively reduces the file size significantly without a noticeable impact on the overall sound quality for most listeners.

This technique is particularly useful for audio files where storage space and bandwidth are considerations, such as streaming music or downloading songs. The goal of lossy compression in the context of MP3s is to maintain a quality that is reasonable for everyday listening while still achieving smaller file sizes, making them more convenient for storage and transmission.

Other methods listed, like lossless compression, retain all original data, ensuring that the file can be perfectly reconstructed without any loss in quality. Fast Fourier Transform compression relates to signal processing techniques but does not specifically refer to the compression method itself. Tailored compression does not represent standard terminology in conventional file compression techniques and does not apply to audio formats like MP3s.