why do people say "I could care less"? that implies that they still care when they are trying to say that they couldn't care less. WHO STARTED SAYING I COULD CARE LESS???

No one is certain when the phrase was coined.

Explanation:

Webster the Marriam version (citing Hearst’s International - Cosmopolitan) states that it's earliest use dates as far back as 1929.

It is interesting to note that "I could care less" and I couldn't care less" are used as synonyms to mean that one is not overly concerned about a matter.

An example would be:

Tired and worn out, he sat up. ”I couldn’t care less,” he said, “whether you stay or not.”

Cheers

answer: inference

explanation:

an inference can be understood as a conclusion to which a person is able to get based on reasoning. it is the same as a deduction, a guess, an assumption.   in the sentence presented, the conjunction "but" gives the readers an idea of contrast, and, therefore, allows them to induce that despite the opponent's characteristics, andrea had something different that made her win.