A cumulative or overall constant, given the symbol β, is the constant for the formation of a complex from reagents. For example, the cumulative constant for the formation of ML is given by
:M + 2 L  ML;  [ML] = β[M][L]
The stepwise constant, K, for the formation of the same complex from ML and L is given by
:ML + L  ML;  [ML] = K[ML][L] = Kβ[M][L]
It follows that
:β = Kβ
A cumulative constant can always be expressed as the product of stepwise constants. There is no agreed notation for stepwise constants, though a symbol such as K is sometimes found in the literature. It is best always to define each stability constant by reference to an equilibrium expression.