Methods for calculating the boundaries of the core and zones of scattering of publications.

Three approaches to calculating the boundaries of the core and zones of scattering of publications, and more specifically, the coordinates of three characteristic points, viz., A, C, and B, on the distribution curve are investigated. These are the analytical and graphical methods, as well as the method of least squares. The first two methods can be applied to any statistical rank-size distribution in the case of a homogeneous sample. Such distributions can be described by the second system of continuous distributions, which represents the universal law of scattering of publications. In a particular case, if Weibull's law can be met, the method of least squares is applied. Practical examples that confirm the high accuracy level of statistical rank-size distributions approximated by a second system of continuous distributions are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]