Hey guys,

I have a slightly imprecise question. I would like say something about a whole set of binary assignments by just looking at some type of average. The easiest example I can think of is probably a binary function that is somewhat linear. Now in order to count the number of assignments resulting into 1 I can do the following:

$1/2^n * \sum_{x \in \{0,1\}^n} f(x) = f(1/2^n * \sum_{x \in \{0,1\}^n} x) = f(1/2 e)$ 

and thus $f(1/2 e) * 2^n$ gives me the answer i am looking for. 

I vaguely recall that I have seen something like this beforehand and I guess that there is something like a whole theory about this type of combinatorial argument out there. It is also somehow about inferring the structure of the boolean function by evaluating it at non-boolean inputs. 


I would really appreciate any pointers or references or just names for what I am actually looking for.

Thanks a lot,
Alberto