In the case of electrons in atoms, the exclusion principle can be stated as follows: in a poly-electron atom it is impossible for any two electrons to have the same two values of all four of their quantum numbers, which are: n, the principal quantum number ; ℓ, the azimuthal quantum number ; m ℓ, the magnetic quantum number ; and m s, the spin quantum number. For example, if two electrons reside in the same orbital, then their values of n, ℓ, and m ℓ are equal. In that case, the two values of m s (spin) pair must be different. Since the only two possible values for the spin projection m s are +1/2 and −1/2, it follows that one electron must have m s = +1/2 and one m s = −1/2.