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Put $z_i=({\mathbf{x}}_i,{\mathbf{v}}_i)$ and $d{z}_i=d^3{x}_i{d}^3{v}_i$. Indistinguishability gives an exchangeable ensemble. Define unit-normalized marginal distributionsIntegrating the dissipative Liouville equation over $z_2,\dots ,z_N$ removes their boundary fluxes. The $N-1$ identical pair terms remain:This is the first equation of a BBGKY hierarchy, with no independence assumed yet.

The additional physical assumption is a mean-field closure for velocity alignment: neglect pair correlations, $p_2(z,z_{\star },t)\simeq p_1(z,t)p_1(z_{\star },t)$. Initial independence alone does not make this exact at later times, because the particles interact. In the usual number convention, $f=N{p}_1$ and the two-particle distribution function is $f_2=N(N-1)p_2$. Consequently the closed equation at finite $N$ isNeglecting the relative $1/N$ correction gives the intended mean-field alignment equation:Equivalently, the closure $f_2\simeq f{f}_{\star }$ incorporates this large-$N$ approximation. It cannot be an exact finite-$N$ identity with $\int f=N$, since $\int f_{2}d{z}_{\star }=(N-1)f$ whereas $\int f{f}_{\star }d{z}_{\star }=Nf$.

There is also a consistent finite-$N$ convention yielding the boxed equation directly under the independence closure: define $\tilde{f}=(N-1)p_1$ instead. Its total normalization of a probability distribution is $N-1$, rather than the physical particle number $N$. Thus the displayed source equation needs a stated normalization of a probability distribution convention, or the large-$N$ approximation, in addition to neglect of correlations. In the remaining parts we use the displayed mean-field alignment equation itself; its moment identities do not depend on the total normalization of a probability distribution.

Put $z_i=({\mathbf{x}}_i,{\mathbf{v}}_i)$ and $d{z}_i=d^3{x}_i{d}^3{v}_i$. Normalize the symmetric $N$-particle phase-space distribution function $D_N$ to one. Use factorial normalization for its one-particle marginal and two-particle distribution function:Thus $\int fdz=N$ and $\int f_2(z_1,z_2)d{z}_2=(N-1)f(z_1)$. For unit particle mass, $f$ also carries mass density. These conventions explain why no extra factor $N-1$ occurs in the result.

Separate the Hamiltonian as $H=H_1+H_{\mathrm{rest}}+H_{\mathrm{int}}$, whereand $H_{\mathrm{rest}}$ contains all terms involving only particles $2,\dots ,N$. The stated Poisson bracket gives Hamilton's equationsConservation of probability along the Hamiltonian flow gives the Hamiltonian Liouville equationAssume decay of the required velocity moments and either decay or periodic boundary conditions in position. Integrating over $z_2,\dots ,z_N$ eliminates the $H_{\mathrm{rest}}$ terms by integration by parts. The terms in $H_{\mathrm{int}}$ differentiating an integrated velocity also vanish. Indistinguishability makes the remaining $N-1$ terms equal, soRelabeling the two particles gives the first BBGKY hierarchy equation:This is exact for a differentiable pair potential; no independent-particle closure has been made.

Normalize the symmetric $N$-particle phase-space distribution function $D_N$ to one and write $z_i=({\mathbf{x}}_i,{\mathbf{v}}_i)$, $d{z}_i=d^3{x}_i{d}^3{v}_i$. The number-normalized one- and two-particle distribution functions areThus $\int fdz=N$ and $\int f_2(z,z_{\star })d{z}_{\star }=(N-1)f(z)$. These conventions absorb the otherwise explicit factor $N-1$ in the first BBGKY hierarchy equation.

Separate the Hamiltonian into kinetic energy, external potential energy, and pair potential terms. Their Hamilton's equations giveThe sign follows directly from the stated Poisson bracket: ${\dot{v}}_{i\alpha }=\{v_{i\alpha },H\}=-{\partial }_{x_{i\alpha }}H$. The Hamiltonian Liouville equation is consequentlyIntegrate over $z_2,\dots ,z_N$ and multiply by $N$. Assume sufficient decay in velocity space and either decay or periodic boundary conditions in position, so that integration by parts removes all transport terms with $i\ge 2$. The surviving interaction term iswhere indistinguishability makes all $N-1$ terms equal. Relabeling $(z_1,z_2)$ as $(z,z_{\star })$ yields the exact resultNo assumption of molecular chaos for the Boltzmann equation has entered: the dependence on the two-particle distribution function is still exact.

For $N$ identical particles with symmetric, unit-normalized phase-space distribution function $D_N$, the number-normalized two-particle marginal is $f_2(z_1,z_2)=N(N-1)\int D_{N}d{z}_3\cdots d{z}_N$. Its integral over $z_2$ is $(N-1)f(z_1)$ and its full integral is $N(N-1)$. The factorial convention counts ordered distinct pairs and absorbs the combinatorial coefficient in the first BBGKY hierarchy equation. It does not imply statistical independence of the pair.