n | Partial sum of the harmonic series, Hn | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
expressed as a fraction | decimal | relative size | ||
1 | 1 | 1 |
|
|
2 | 3 | /2 | 1.5 |
|
3 | 11 | /6 | ~1.83333 |
|
4 | 25 | /12 | ~2.08333 |
|
5 | 137 | /60 | ~2.28333 |
|
6 | 49 | /20 | 2.45 |
|
7 | 363 | /140 | ~2.59286 |
|
8 | 761 | /280 | ~2.71786 |
|
9 | 129 7 | /520 2 | ~2.82897 |
|
10 | 381 7 | /520 2 | ~2.92897 |
|
11 | 711 83 | /720 27 | ~3.01988 |
|
12 | 021 86 | /720 27 | ~3.10321 |
|
13 | 145993 1 | /360 360 | ~3.18013 |
|
14 | 171733 1 | /360 360 | ~3.25156 |
|
15 | 195757 1 | /360 360 | ~3.31823 |
|
16 | 436559 2 | /720 720 | ~3.38073 |
|
17 | 142223 42 | /252240 12 | ~3.43955 |
|
18 | 274301 14 | /084080 4 | ~3.49511 |
|
19 | 295799 275 | /597520 77 | ~3.54774 |
|
20 | 835135 55 | /519504 15 | ~3.59774 |
|
21 | 858053 18 | /173168 5 | ~3.64536 |
|
22 | 093197 19 | /173168 5 | ~3.69081 |
|
23 | 316699 444 | /982864 118 | ~3.73429 |
|
24 | 347822955 1 | /948592 356 | ~3.77596 |
|
25 | 052522467 34 | /923714800 8 | ~3.81596 |
|
26 | 395742267 34 | /923714800 8 | ~3.85442 |
|
27 | 536252003 312 | /313433200 80 | ~3.89146 |
|
28 | 404588903 315 | /313433200 80 | ~3.92717 |
|
29 | 227046511387 9 | /329089562800 2 | ~3.96165 |
|
30 | 304682830147 9 | /329089562800 2 | ~3.99499 |
|
In mathematics, the harmonic series is the divergent infinite series:
Its name derives from the concept of overtones, or harmonics in music: the wavelengths of the overtones of a vibrating string are 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, etc., of the string's fundamental wavelength. Every term of the series after the first is the harmonic mean of the neighboring terms; the phrase harmonic mean likewise derives from music.
The fact that the harmonic series diverges was first proven in the 14th century by Nicole Oresme, but this achievement fell into obscurity. Proofs were given in the 17th century by Pietro Mengoli,Johann Bernoulli, and Jacob Bernoulli.
Historically, harmonic sequences have had a certain popularity with architects. This was so particularly in the Baroque period, when architects used them to establish the proportions of floor plans, of elevations, and to establish harmonic relationships between both interior and exterior architectural details of churches and palaces.