Coverage changes with read count and read length over the same toy genome length. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.

highlighted = computed this step

Coverage is a read-base budget

Genome length stays 1000 bases. The scan changes read count and read length before dividing by that same genome length.

coverage=readsread lengthgenome length\text{coverage}=\frac{\text{reads}\cdot\text{read length}}{\text{genome length}}
CoverageReads cover a simplified genome track.coverage

Read count and read length both change coverage

The first two rows isolate read count. The final row keeps the same read count but increases read length.

readslengthcoverage101001201002201503\begin{array}{c|c|c}\text{reads}&\text{length}&\text{coverage}\\10&100&1\\20&100&2\\20&150&3\end{array}
CoverageReads cover a simplified genome track.coverage

The final row reaches three-times coverage

For the rendered row, 20 reads of length 150 over 1000 bases gives 3 x.

201501000=3\frac{20\cdot150}{1000}=3
CoverageReads cover a simplified genome track.coverage