2nd year computer engineering student here.
This explanation really isnt for 5/yos but i think its interesting nonetheless.
Basically, very smart humans have mathematically defined what a “system” is – takes an input and returns and output. Moreover, they found that some systems – most systems in nature actually – behave in a way that makes them very easy to predict – and reverse.
The useful part is that almost everything is a system, especially everything regarding sound. (for example, noise is a system: takes what you say and return what you say, but with some background noise)
Thats how noise canceling algorithms work – they find what “system” the noise is and reverses its effects.
To be exact, when i say “reverse”, i mean putting the output of the “noise system” through another system – the “inverse” system. Basically a new system that can take the output of the previous system and give the input – the noiseless sound – which is exactly what we want.
If you want to know how the math works, look up “convolution systems”, and more precisely “LTI systems”. I can explain it further but idk if anyone would want to read that tbh
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