1923. No. 4. PHYSICAL de\t:lopmext of children and yol'ng people. 29 



deviation in weight {2.^'/ kg.) is given 3 times larger place on the ab- 

 scissa than the standard deviation in height (4.92 cm., fig. 5). 



The sight impression of the variability is naturally dependent upon 

 the relation between the breadth and height extension of the curve. 

 If therefore a 3 times larger space for the standard deviation on the 

 abscissa really is to give the right impression of a 3 times larger vari- 

 ability, it must be taken care that the height of both of the curves is 

 the same. This has been done on the mentioned curve for 7 years old 

 boys weight and height -*•. Fig. 9 a and fig. 5. 



Ftg. 9 a. 



And when we compare these two height and weight curves, the eye 

 will get a striking impression of the much stronger degree of the vari- 

 ability of weight compared to the variability of height — or, as ex- 

 pressed in numbers by the coefficient of variability, 11.76 and 4.16. 



Beside the just mentioned curve for weight of 7 years old boys 

 we find the same in a reduced scale. The dimensions of abscissa and 

 ordinate have been correspondingly reduced. This reduction is then, 

 in consideration of space, methodically carried out for all the other ages 

 and for both sexes. The sight impression of the variability will naturally 

 therefore not be changed. 



The curves for weight show moreover, compared to fig. 5 (the distri- 

 bution curve of height) another and significant peculiarity, viz. a distinct 



Strongly approximate. 



