In this illustration, estimated RTT and sample RTT are graphed in order to show their differences.

The x-axis, labeled "Time (seconds)," begins at 1 and moves in increments of seven to 106. The y-axis, labeled "RTT (milliseconds)," begins at 100 and moves upwards in increments of fifty to 350. Estimated RTT is represented by a black line, while Sample RTT is represented by a blue line.

Estimated RTT and Sample RTT begin at the same point on the graph: at 1 on the x-axis and just under 200 on the y-axis. The black line rises relatively smoothly, reaching just over 200 on the y-axis at about 22 on the x-axis, before leveling out and extending rightward with little fluctuation. By 71 on the x-axis, Estimated RTT has reached just below 250 on the y-axis. There are small dips and bumps before ending at about 225 on the y-axis when we reach 106 on the x-axis.

By contrast, Sample RTT extends rightward in a series of sharp rises and drops. By 15 on the x-axis, Sample RTT has spiked above 250 on the y-axis, then drops to 200, then rises to 225, then drops below 200, etc. It continues this pattern of spikes and drops as it progresses. By 71 on the x-axis it begins spiking dramatically, hitting 300, then dropping below 200, then hitting 325 and dropping, 350 and dropping, etc. It ends just below 200 on the y-axis when we reach 106 on the x-axis.