Three rows show when baryon number is kept, lost, or canceled. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.

highlighted = computed this step

Keeping a proton keeps baryon number

Baryon ledger starts at 3 and ends at 3; accepted bit is 1.

33,a=13\to3,\quad a=1
Particle ledger rowInput and output particle ledgers feed one conservation check.protonprotonphotonQ3=3B3=3Le=0Lmu=0Q3=3B3=3Le=0Lmu=0Q3=0B3=0Le=0Lmu=0accepted

Replacing a proton loses baryon number

Baryon ledger starts at 3 and ends at 0; accepted bit is 0.

30,a=03\to0,\quad a=0
Particle ledger rowInput and output particle ledgers feed one conservation check.protonpositronphotonQ3=3B3=3Le=0Lmu=0Q3=3B3=0Le=-1Lmu=0Q3=0B3=0Le=0Lmu=0rejected

Matter and antimatter can cancel baryon number

Baryon ledger starts at 0 and ends at 0; accepted bit is 1.

00,a=10\to0,\quad a=1
Particle ledger rowInput and output particle ledgers feed one conservation check.protonanti-protonphotonphotonQ3=3B3=3Le=0Lmu=0Q3=-3B3=-3Le=0Lmu=0Q3=0B3=0Le=0Lmu=0Q3=0B3=0Le=0Lmu=0accepted