2. Boxcar Averaging: Boxcar averaging is a digital procedure for smoothing irregularities and enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio. It is assumed that the analog analytical signal varies only slowly with time and the average of a small number of adjacent points is a better measure of the signal than any of the individual points. In practice 2 to 50 points are averaged to generate a final point. This averaging is performed by a computer in real time, i.e., as the data is being collected. Its utility is limited for complex signals that change rapidly as a function of time.