48 AKT. 19. N. TCHINOHE : 



This table serves to find the so-called star-ratio in the 

 Algols, a special part of stars. From the investigation of the 

 stars in general, star-ratio up to the stars of the ninth mag- 

 nitude was found to be nearly d.5. The inspection of the above 

 table will at once show that the ratio, if it exists, does not 

 exceed two. Supposing such a ratio to exist and finding the 

 mean value, we have 1.80. The remarkable difference between 

 the stars in general and the Algols only can be explained on 

 either one of the two followed hypotheses : — (1) Algol variables 

 are distributed in space in the same manner as the ordinary 

 stars are. (2) The distribution of the Algols over the heavens 

 is governed by a law different from that of the ordinary stars. 

 If we adopt the first hypothesis, the result above given shows 

 that we have not reached a position where we can claim to have 

 made a uniform discovery of the Algols for all the magnitudes. 

 Possibly, as the Algol becomes fainter in its normal brightness, 

 the chances to discover the variation of light will be less. But 

 if we chose the latter hypothesis, it would be rather doubtful to 

 think that there is a constant star-ratio among the variable stars 

 of this class. 



(f) KANGE OF VAKIATIOK 



We have, now, to consider the distribution of the range of 

 variation in the Algols. Theoretically considered, the limit of 

 the range of variation will be extended from infinitely small to 

 infinitely great, i.e., absolutely dark, but practically we are not 

 able to distinguish a very small variation of light in a star, so 

 that the Algols, having such a small range of variation, might 

 remain without the nature of the light-change being detected. 

 Thus, the least value of the range of variation will be the amount 



