A sequence of tuples, each having one or more attributes, is received at one of one or more processing elements operating on one or more processors. Each processing element may have one or more stream operators. A first stream operator may be identified as one that only processes an instance of a first attribute in a currently received tuple when a difference between an instance of the first attribute in a previously received tuple and the instance of the first attribute in the currently received tuple is outside of a difference threshold. A second stream operator may generate a difference attribute from a first instance of the first attribute in a first one of the received tuples and a second instance of the first attribute in a second one of the received tuples. The difference attribute may be transmitted from the second stream operator to the first stream operator.