**Why techniques matter**: Combined effect = 5–50x improvement. **Partitioning**: Co-locate data; partition pruning reduces scan. Align partition key with filter. **Broadcast**: Small table to all executors; no shuffle. **Caching**: Reuse intermediates. **Scalability trade-offs**: Partition by high-cardinality = explosion; broadcast has size limit; cache competes with memory. **Cost implications**: Partition pruning = less scan; broadcast = less shuffle; cache = faster when reused....
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