RULE OF ALTERNATION

The practicality of applying the Rule of Alternation is more useful when it relates to alternate waves rather than adjacent waves. In a five-wave structure, Wave 2 can be expected to alternate with Wave 4 in at least one of the following ways:

  • Pattern of construction
  • Time of formation
  • Strength and depth of formation

When Wave 2’s formation is a complex correction, Wave 4’s formation can be anticipated to be simple. (See Figure 4.26.)

FIGURE 4.26 The Rule of Alternation says, if Wave 2 is a complex pattern, then Wave 4 should be a simple pattern. Here, Wave 4 is a simple corrective pattern.

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When the formation of Wave 2 is a simple correction, Wave 4’s formation can be anticipated to be a complex pattern. (See Figure 4.27.)

FIGURE 4.27 This chart shows the Rule of Alternation. Wave 2 completes a simple correction in 12 days, but Wave 4 completes a complex correction in 166 days (138 percent of 12 days in Wave 2). Note that 138 percent is 100 percent plus 38 percent; and 38.2 is a Fibonacci number.

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