 Amortized time complexity

An amortized analysis can bound the total time complexity $T(m,n)$ of every allowed sequence of $m$ operations by $ma(n)+I(n)$, where $n$ is a size parameter and $I(n)$ accounts for initialization or the specified initial state. The bound $a(n)$ is then an amortized per-operation time complexity. Dividing the total bound by $m$ explains the averaging; it is a guarantee over every permitted sequence, without an assumed probability distribution on requests. Individual operations can cost more than $a(n)$.