Ensemble averages

Ensemble averages are a way to understand complex systems by looking at many possible states or outcomes together. Imagine observing a large group of similar systems—like many individual dice rolls or weather patterns—and averaging their results. Instead of predicting one specific outcome, ensemble averages give a typical or expected value across all these possibilities. This approach helps scientists and engineers analyze systems that are random or uncertain, providing a meaningful average that reflects the overall behavior rather than any single scenario.