Skip to content

Mathematics and Statistics · Ch 4 — Sequences and Series

Harmonic Progression (HP)

6

Harmonic Progression (HP)

A Harmonic Progression (HP) is a sequence whose reciprocals form an Arithmetic Progression. That is, t1,t2,t3,…t_1, t_2, t_3, \ldots is an HP precisely when 1t1,1t2,1t3,…\dfrac{1}{t_1}, \dfrac{1}{t_2}, \dfrac{1}{t_3}, \ldots is an AP (with no term equal to zero).

Note

How to Work With an HP

There is no separate "nice" formula for the nn-th term of an HP. Instead, the standard method is:

  1. Take reciprocals of the HP terms to get an AP.
  2. Use the AP tools (tn=a+(n−1)dt_n = a + (n-1)d) on those reciprocals.
  3. Take the reciprocal of the AP answer to return to the HP.

Example: the sequence 16,19,112,115,…\dfrac{1}{6}, \dfrac{1}{9}, \dfrac{1}{12}, \dfrac{1}{15}, \ldots is an HP because its reciprocals 6,9,12,15,…6, 9, 12, 15, \ldots form an AP with a=6a = 6 and d=3d = 3. To find the 1010th term of the HP: the 1010th term of the reciprocal AP is 6+(10−1)(3)=6+27=336 + (10-1)(3) = 6 + 27 = 33, so the 1010th term of the HP is 133\dfrac{1}{33}.

Note

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 …