A selector responds to a training mass-to-charge ratio. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.

highlighted = computed this step

Selection uses a ratio, not mass alone

The first training ion has mass index 12 and charge index 3, so the ratio is 4.

m/z=12/3=4m/z=12/3=4
Mass selectionIon marker positions are tied to exact training ratios.ionion

Another mass can have another ratio

The second ion has mass index 18 and the same charge index 3, so its ratio is 6. These are dimensionless training indexes.

m/z=18/3=6m/z=18/3=6
Mass selectionIon marker positions are tied to exact training ratios.ionion