100
THE MEANING OF RELATIVITY
the naturally measured lengths and times. Since , on the other hand, is known in terms of the co-ordinates employed in finite regions, in the form
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we have the possibility of getting the relation between naturally measured lengths and times, on the one hand, and the corresponding differences of co-ordinates, on the other hand. As the division into space and time is in agreement with respect to the two systems of co-ordinates, so when we equate the two expressions for we get two relations. If, by (101a), we put
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we obtain, to a sufficiently close approximation,
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(106)
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The unit measuring rod has therefore the length,
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in respect to the system of co-ordinates we have selected. The particular system of co-ordinates we have selected