The distribution of column lengths,p(n)/Nc, in a strain‐free powder sample is given by the relationshipp(n)/Nc=k(An+1−2An+An−1)/(A1−Ak+1)among the Fourier coefficients of the x‐ray powder diffraction line shape under the assumption that the total number of columns of length 1, 2, …,kunit cells is negligibly small. This eliminates the necessity for use of the experimentally imperfect coefficientA0and is equivalent to Warren's method for elimination of the ``hook effect.'' It is also shown that the technique of Warren and Averbach is valid for either narrow or broad diffraction lines if the crystallite size distribution is treated as a function of a discrete variable.