It is shown that analysis of the way in which the intrinsic viscosity of fractions of a branched polydisperse polymer depends on the molecular mass of the fractions can give information about the macromolecule's type of branching. It is concluded on the basis of an experimental study of PE that the long-chain branching in PE is random in structure. It is found that the branches of the macromolecule can vary during the formation of the branched marcromolecule.