← Back to article

Equation 17 · The Economics and Physical Limits of Running AI Agents at Scale

What does this equation mean?

ci=pin(τ+δ+(i−1)σ)+pout oˉc_i = p_{\text{in}}\big(\tau + \delta + (i-1)\sigma\big) + p_{\text{out}}\,\bar{o}

Read the formula alongside the article passage below. Each part has a deeper page with its role in the equation, the supporting passage and nearby citations.

Inputs and operationsp_inbig(τ + delta + (i-1)σbig) + p_outbaro
Result or conditionc_i
How to read the two sides of this formula. Follow the article passage for the meaning of each quantity.

This equation states an equality: the expressions on both sides have the same value under the article’s assumptions. Read the equation part by part below; each part has a contextual explanation and a link to its mathematical background.

Read it piece by piece

cic_i

Symbol c_i

cic_i is part of the quantity the equation computes from the expression on the right.

Understand this part →

pinp_{\text{in}}

Symbol p_in

pip_in is one of the signed contributions combined to compute the quantity on the left.

Understand this part →

τ\tau

Symbol τ

τ is one of the signed contributions combined to compute the quantity on the left.

Understand this part →

δ\delta

Symbol delta

delta is one of the signed contributions combined to compute the quantity on the left.

Understand this part →

ii

Symbol i

the step.

Understand this part →

σ\sigma

Symbol σ

σ is one of the signed contributions combined to compute the quantity on the left.

Understand this part →

poutp_{\text{out}}

Symbol p_out

pop_out is one of the signed contributions combined to compute the quantity on the left.

Understand this part →

oˉ\bar{o}

Symbol baro

baro is one of the signed contributions combined to compute the quantity on the left.

Understand this part →

=

=

The expressions on both sides represent the same quantity under the stated assumptions.

Understand this part →

See an illustrated explanation →
addition

addition

Add the term after the plus sign to the term or group before it.

Understand this part →

subtraction

subtraction

Subtract the following term or group from the preceding one. A leading minus marks a negative quantity.

Understand this part →

subscript

subscript

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.

Understand this part →

How to interpret it

Read it with the definitions, units, and assumptions supplied by the article.

What the article says around this equation

Because the API is stateless between calls, step i in the loop must include, as ordinary input, everything that made it into the transcript through step i-1 : the tool results, the intermediate reasoning, the earlier outputs. Call the amount a single step permanently adds to that growing transcript σ\sigma — roughly δ\delta plus oˉ\bar{o} , since both the new material a step introduces and the output it produces become part of what every later step has to resend. Without caching, step i ’s input is not just τ\tau + δ\delta ; it is τ\tau + δ\delta plus the accumulated weight of every prior step, (i-1)σ\sigma : ci=pin(τ+δ+(i−1)σ)+pout oˉc_i = p_{\text{in}}\big(\tau + \delta + (i-1)\sigma\big) + p_{\text{out}}\,\bar{o}. Summed over an n -step trajectory, that gives

Read the equation in its article →

Sources cited in the article section

These citations give research context. Read each source to check which claims it supports.

Return to The Economics and Physical Limits of Running AI Agents at Scale

See this formula across 1 published context →

Browse the mathematical compendium →