For a simplistic example of emergent properties we can think of paint. Say you wanted to make light blue paint. One way you could make light blue paint would be to mix together dark blue paint and white. In this case, the blueness of the paint is not an emergent property because it clearly comes from the dark blue paint. Another way you could make light blue paint would be to mix together yellow, green, and white paint. In this case, the blueness of the paint would be an emergent property because it is not a property held by yellow, green, or white individually.