126
A PERMANENT DISTRIBUTION IN WHICH
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(407)
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Differentiating (405), we get
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(408)
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where

denotes the least value of

consistent with the external coördinates. The last term in this equation represents the part of

which is due to the variation of the lower limit of the integral. It is evident that the expression in the brackets will vanish at the upper limit. At the lower limit, at which

, and

has the least value consistent with the external coördinates, the average sign on

is superfluous, as there is but one value of

which is represented by

. Exceptions may indeed occur for particular values of the external coördinates, at which

receive a finite increment, and the formula becomes illusory. Such particular values we may for the moment leave out of account. The last term of (408) is therefore equal to the first term of the second member of (407). (We may observe that both vanish when

on account of the factor

.)
We have therefore from these equations
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or
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(409)
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That is: the average value in the ensemble of the quantity represented by the principal parenthesis is zero. This must