Subtracting a baseline changes the samples before the average. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.
Baseline subtraction happens before averaging
Raw samples 5, 7, 9, 11 volts share baseline 3 volts.
( 5 , 7 , 9 , 11 ) + ( − 3 ) = ( 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 ) (5,7,9,11)+(-3)=(2,4,6,8) ( 5 , 7 , 9 , 11 ) + ( − 3 ) = ( 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 ) Baseline subtraction Raw and net samples are both label-bound. rawSamples=5,7,9,11 V baseline=3 V samples=2,4,6,8 V count=4 sum=20 V average=5 V min=2 V max=8 V
The net ledger is the one averaged
After subtraction the net sum is 20 volts and the average is 5 volts.
V ˉ net = 5 V \bar V_{\text{net}}=5\ \text{V} V ˉ net = 5 V Net average The baseline cannot be silently skipped. rawSamples=5,7,9,11 V baseline=3 V samples=2,4,6,8 V count=4 sum=20 V average=5 V min=2 V max=8 V