The hypernetted-chain theory is applied to study hierarchical states in the fractional quantum Hall effect. It is noted that a class of wave functions introduced by Girvin [Phys. Rev. B 29, 6012 (1984)] and MacDonald, Aers, and Dharma-wardana [Phys. Rev. B 31, 5529 (1985)], based on charge-conjugation procedures, is of the extended shadow wave-function type. The correlation energy, pair distribution function, and static structure function have been calculated in the thermodynamic limit at various filling factors. The results obtained agree with those of previous calculations performed with a finite number of electrons. © 1997 The American Physical Society.