The partition function, also called the sum over states, It plays an important role in the evaluation of thermodynamic functions and in the derivation of distribution functions.

配分函数，也称状态和函数。 对于热力学函数的获得及在分布函数的导出中拌演着重要角色。

youdao

But we can determine what that constant is, because we know that if we sum over all the possible states, the molecule has to be in some state, right?

我们可以确定这个常数，因为我们知道，当我们把所有的态加起来之后，粒子必定处于某个状态，对吗？

youdao

In general we would sum over all the available states.

通常对所有可以允许的态进行求和。

youdao

Think of it as something like the idiotic zero-sum game between states over where a new plant (or football stadium) gets built.

FORBES: The Final Frontier: A Tax Break For Burial In Space