Suppose that, in the matrix game given by the m × n matrix [aij], the mixed strategies x and y for the two players are given by x = (x1, x2,…, xm), and y = (y1, y2,…, yn). The expectation E(x,y) is given by
If A = [aij], then E(x,y) = xAyT. The expectation can be said, loosely, to give the average payoff each time when the game is played many times with the two players using these mixed strategies.