Using data collected with the L3 detector at LEP from 1992 to 1995 on the Z
peak, we determine the branching fractions of the tau lepton into one, thr
ee and five charged particles to be:
B(tau --> (1 -prong)) = 85.274 +/- 0.105 +/- 0.073%,
B(tau --> (3-prong)) = 14.556 +/- 0.105 +/- 0.076%,
B(tau --> (5-prong)) = 0.170 +/- 0.022 +/- 0.026%.
The first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The accu
racy of these measurements alone is similar to that of the current world av
erage. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.