# How Acquisition Averaging Works

Initially (or after a Clear), to make measurements on an averaged waveform, the specified number of acquisitions (M) must be taken and averaged. Thereafter, each new acquisition gives another set of acquisitions that can be averaged and measured (the new acquisition and the previous M-1 acquisitions).

For acquisitions up to the specified number of acquisitions to be averaged (for 1 ≤ n < M), the following formula is used to calculate the average for each data acquisition, point-by-point:

After terminal count is reached (n ≥ M), this formula is used to calculate the average or each data acquisition, point-by-point:

where:

- Aven = the average sample value.
- n = the current average number.
- M = Number of Waveforms control setting (terminal count).
- Si = the ith sample (for the nth sample, Si = Sn).