The division of the total core losses in the electrical steel of the magnetic circuit into two components – losses dueto hysteresis and eddy currents – is a serious technical problem, the solution of which will effectively design and construct electrical machines with magnetic circuits having low magnetic losses. In this regard, an important parameter is the exponent α, with which the frequency of magnetization reversal is included in the total losses in steel. Theoretically, this indicator can take values from 1 to 2. Most authors take α equal to 1.3, which corresponds to the special case when the eddy current losses are three times higher than the hysteresis losses. In fact, for modern electrical steels, the opposite is true. To refine the index α, an attempt was made to separate the total core losses on the basis that the hysteresis component is proportional to the first degree of the magnetization reversal frequency, and the eddy current component is proportional to the second degree. In the article, the calculation formulas of these components are obtained, containing the values of the total losses measured in idling experiments at two different frequencies, and the ratio of these frequencies. It is shown that the rational frequency ratio is within 1.2. Presented the graphs and expressions to determine the exponent α depending on the measured no-load losses and the frequency of magnetization reversal.