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Execution Architecture · Capital Deployment

Dollar-Cost Averaging: The Harmonic Mean Engine

How automated periodic capital allocation removes cognitive friction and mathematically lowers average acquisition cost during market downturns.

Harmonic Mean Acquisition Price Formula

Mathematical Specification
Discrete Formula
P_avg = (N * C) / Σ (C / P_i) = N / Σ (1 / P_i)

Variable Breakdown & Definitions

SymbolParameterEngineering DefinitionExample
P_avgAverage PriceReal average cost per share acquired$94.20 (USD / share)
CFixed Cash AllocationConstant dollar contribution per interval$500 (USD ($))
P_iPrice at Interval iSpot market price of the asset at time i$100 (USD / share)
NInterval CountTotal number of execution cycles36 (Cycles)

*Note: Because shares = C / P_i, total shares acquired are weighted heavily during low-price regimes.

Test your own DCA strategy in the interactive simulator

Simulate volatile, sideways, and crashing markets to see your exact unit cost.

Featured Ebook · Money Under the Hood Book 02

Buy the Average: Dollar-Cost Averaging as an Algorithmic System

Read the full unabridged digital book covering the Fixed-Dollar Effect, Maya vs. Leo, harmonic mean derivations, and the compounding crossover.

Authoritative Sources & Empirical References

WealthSyntax educational guides ground their mathematical models and historical assumptions in verified statutory databases and academic financial literature.

Vanguard Group ResearchVer: 2023
Dollar-Cost Averaging Just Means Taking Risk Later

Comprehensive historical backtest comparing lump-sum investing versus DCA schedules.

W. W. Norton & CompanyVer: 2023
A Random Walk Down Wall Street

Behavioral and statistical foundation for automated passive investing.

Educational & Mathematical Purpose Only: WealthSyntax is an independent educational publisher. The models, calculators, code snippets, and books provided are for educational and mathematical modeling purposes only and do not constitute individual investment, legal, or tax advice. Always consider consulting a licensed fiduciary professional for your unique financial circumstances.
Go deeper: Review the AM-HM inequality proof and volatile-cycle walkthrough in Is there a mathematical proof for dollar-cost averaging?
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