Mathematics and Statistics · Ch 4 — Sequences and Series
Harmonic Progression (HP)
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Harmonic Progression (HP)
A Harmonic Progression (HP) is a sequence whose reciprocals form an Arithmetic Progression. That is, is an HP precisely when is an AP (with no term equal to zero).
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How to Work With an HP
There is no separate "nice" formula for the -th term of an HP. Instead, the standard method is:
- Take reciprocals of the HP terms to get an AP.
- Use the AP tools () on those reciprocals.
- Take the reciprocal of the AP answer to return to the HP.
Example: the sequence is an HP because its reciprocals form an AP with and . To find the th term of the HP: the th term of the reciprocal AP is , so the th term of the HP is .
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Why "Harmonic" …
Definition 10Harmonic Progression (HP)
A sequence whose reciprocals form an AP. Solve HP problems by reciprocating to an AP, using AP formulas, then …