The audit distinguishes packet input from per-step and repeated work. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.

highlighted = computed this step

Packet total feeds the input budget

The packet source gives total input 60 joules, while the step-work source gives per-step work 12 joules.

60 J input, 12 J per step60\ \text{J input},\ 12\ \text{J per step}
Packet to step chainTyped source refs keep packet total and per-step work separate.1packet sourcestep workload gatewaste budgetaccepted

Repeated work feeds useful output

The repeated step source gives useful work 36 joules.

312=363\cdot12=36
Useful work sourceUseful output is the repeated-step total, not packet input.1packet sourcestep workload gatewaste budgetaccepted