Last Update: August 13, 2010
Henry Templeman
henry
Osterburg Frequency Table
Quantitative weights for individual and compound ridge formation types were established based on Osterburg's frequency study [7] in terms of 8,591 1mm x 1mm cell configurations (Table 1). 
The quantitative weights established by Osterburg's frequency study were redistributed based on a .45mm x .45mm cell configuration in order to illustrate ridge formations in terms of ridge units. As a result frequencies for the individual (non-compound ) ridge unit types were re-defined and adjusted quantitative weigfhts were established. See Table 2 in Ridge Unit Weights 3/3.
WARNING: The above quantitative weights involve coupled-up or married minutiae which denies statistical independence and therefore causes values to be distorted. DO NOT USE!
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Based on frequency of occurrence a bifurcating ridge unit occurs 4-5 times as often as a dot. As a result a dot has 4-5 times as much weight as a bifurcating ridge unit.

Bifurcation

Dot
Based on the product rule, the quantitative weight for 4 pattern force ending ridges is defined as 10 x 10 x 10 x 10, or 10,000. The value for 2 dots and is defined as 98 x 98, or 9,604. As a result the aggregate weight for 4 pattern force ending ridge units is nearly the equivalent to, yet slightly more than, that for 2 dots.
Henry Templeman
henry