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OCR Rendition - approximate
viii PECULIARITIES OF THE DIGITS 127 feasible relationship under the pre-established conditions, would be 31. The range of all possible relationships in respect to whorls, would consequently lie between a percentage frequency of the minimum 14 and the maximum 31, while the observed frequency is of the intermediate value of 26. Subtracting the 14 from these three values, we have the series of 0, 12, 17. These terms can be converted into their equivalents in a centesimal scale that reaches from 0° to 100° instead of from 0° to 17°, by the ordinary rule of three, 12 : x :: 17 : 100 ; x = 70 or 71, whence the value x of the observed relationship on the centesimal scale would be 70° or 71'. neglecting decimals. This method of obtaining the value of 100° is open to grave objection in the present example. We have no right to consider that the 45 per cent of whorls on the right ring-finger,, and the 31 on the left, can be due to pre-established conditions, which would exercise a paramount effect even though the whorls were due entirely to causes common to both fingers. There is some self - contradiction in such a supposition. Neither are we at liberty to assume that the respective effects of the special causes X and Z are equal in average amount ; if they were, the percentage of whorls on the right and on the left finger would invariably be equal. In this Particular example the difficulty of determining correctly the scale value of 100° is exceptionally great ; elsewhere, the percentages of frequency in the two members of each couplet are more alike. In
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