These formulas are built on top of basic operations and indicators, using familiar math operators such as:

• Addition +

• Subtraction -

• Multiplication *

• Division /

• Parentheses ( ) for grouping and weighting

With arithmetic formulas, you can construct powerful expressions while keeping the logic explicit and transparent.

Why arithmetic formulas matter

Arithmetic formulas are essential because they let you:

• Combine multiple assets into a single signal

• Compare assets directly against each other

• Normalize values using ratios

• Create weighted blends and custom composites

• Express market relationships mathematically, not descriptively

Instead of asking “How does Bitcoin compare to Ethereum?”, you can define exactly how they are compared.

How arithmetic formulas work

Arithmetic formulas operate on existing operations or indicators, referenced using their full identifiers.

For example:

• BTCUSD.close refers to Bitcoin’s closing price

• ETHUSD.volume refers to Ethereum’s trading volume

• BTCUSD.rsi refers to Bitcoin’s RSI value

These values can then be combined using arithmetic operators to produce a new derived series, which can be visualized like any other chart.

Common arithmetic use cases

Arithmetic formulas are often used to:

• Aggregate values across assets

• Measure relative strength or dominance

• Compare momentum between markets

• Build weighted portfolios or indices

• Create custom ratios not available as standard indicators

Despite their simplicity, arithmetic formulas unlock a wide design space for custom analytics.

Sample basic arithmetic formulas

Below are examples of common arithmetic formula prompts, paired with the exact formulas they generate.

Aggregation formulas

Aggregation combines multiple values into a single result:
"Show me the total trading volume for Bitcoin and Ethereum combined"

BTCUSD.volume + ETHUSD.volume

This adds the trading volume of both assets to show total market activity.

Ratio formulas

Ratios express one value relative to another:
"Create a chart showing Bitcoin's dominance ratio over Ethereum price"

BTCUSD.close / ETHUSD.close

This shows how Bitcoin’s price moves relative to Ethereum’s price over time.

Difference formulas

Differences highlight divergence between assets or indicators:
"Compare the momentum difference between BTC and ETH using RSI"

BTCUSD.rsi - ETHUSD.rsi

Positive values indicate stronger BTC momentum, negative values indicate stronger ETH momentum.

Weighted average formulas

Weighted averages let you assign importance to each component:

"Give me a weighted average of top 3 crypto prices: 50% BTC, 30% ETH, 20% SOL"

(0.5 * BTCUSD.close) + (0.3 * ETHUSD.close) + (0.2 * SOLUSD.close)

This creates a custom price composite that behaves like a weighted index.

Volume ratio formulas

Volume ratios compare trading activity rather than price.
"Show me the BTC to ETH volume ratio"

BTCUSD.volume / ETHUSD.volume

This highlights which asset dominates trading activity at any given time.

Combining arithmetic with indicators

Arithmetic formulas are not limited to raw OHLCV values. They work equally well with indicators such as RSI, moving averages, volatility metrics, and custom features.

For example:

• Comparing RSI between assets

• Subtracting moving averages

• Dividing price by volatility

• Weighting signals by volume

As long as the underlying value exists, it can be used in an arithmetic formula.

Best practices

When working with arithmetic formulas:

• Use parentheses to make weighting explicit

• Prefer ratios for relative comparisons

• Use differences to highlight divergence

• Keep formulas simple and interpretable

• Build up complexity gradually

Clear formulas are easier to reason about, debug, and reuse.

Summary

Basic arithmetic formulas allow you to move from raw values to structured relationships. By combining operations mathematically, you can express comparisons, dominance, blends, and custom metrics in a precise and repeatable way.

They are simple by design, but powerful in practice, forming a natural bridge between basic operations and more advanced signal logic.