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Equation 21 · Part 5 · Ten Failure Modes in Agentic Coding, from Prompt Injection to False Completion

subscript

pi,di,ci,rip_i,d_i,c_i,r_i
subscript

What this part means

The lower label selects a particular version, component, or indexed member of the quantity. For example, x₀ and xₜ can be values at different positions.

Its job in the formula

A subscript distinguishes a version, component, step, or member of a quantity. It does not automatically mean multiplication.

The passage around this formula

where pip_i,did_i,cic_i,rir_i are effective prevention, detection, containment, and recovery probabilities under a simplified independence assumption. The equation should not be used to manufacture precise risk numbers; controls are correlated and measurements sparse. It communicates why a single impressive guardrail cannot justify broad authority.

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Learn the underlying idea

A subscript is a label attached below a symbol. It often selects a time step, component, category, or member of a sequence.

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