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In mathematics, the harmonic series is the infinite series formed by summing all positive unit fractions: = = + + + + +.. The first terms of the series sum to approximately +, where is the natural logarithm and is the Euler–Mascheroni constant.
This was proved by Leonhard Euler in 1737, [1] and strengthens Euclid's 3rd-century-BC result that there are infinitely many prime numbers and Nicole Oresme's 14th-century proof of the divergence of the sum of the reciprocals of the integers (harmonic series).
In mathematics, a harmonic progression (or harmonic sequence) is a progression formed by taking the reciprocals of an arithmetic progression, which is also known as an arithmetic sequence. Equivalently, a sequence is a harmonic progression when each term is the harmonic mean of the neighboring terms.
The harmonic numbers roughly approximate the natural logarithm function [2]: 143 and thus the associated harmonic series grows without limit, albeit slowly. In 1737, Leonhard Euler used the divergence of the harmonic series to provide a new proof of the infinity of prime numbers.
The harmonic series (also overtone series) is the sequence of harmonics, musical tones, or pure tones whose frequency is an integer multiple of a fundamental frequency. Pitched musical instruments are often based on an acoustic resonator such as a string or a column of air, which oscillates at numerous modes simultaneously.
An infinite series of any rational function of can be reduced to a finite series of polygamma functions, by use of partial fraction decomposition, [8] as explained here. This fact can also be applied to finite series of rational functions, allowing the result to be computed in constant time even when the series contains a large number of terms.
The harmonic numbers are a fundamental sequence in number theory and analysis, known for their logarithmic growth. This result leverages the fact that the sum of the inverses of integers (i.e., harmonic numbers) can be closely approximated by the natural logarithm function, plus a constant, especially when extended over large intervals.
For instance, rearranging the terms of the alternating harmonic series so that each positive term of the original series is followed by two negative terms of the original series rather than just one yields [34] + + + = + + + = + + + = (+ + +), which is times the original series, so it would have a sum of half of the natural logarithm of 2. By ...