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HARMONIC PROGRESSION

If inverse of a sequence follows rule of an A.P. then it is said to be in harmonic

progression.

e.g. 1,1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5 ...............

1/10, 1/7, 1/4, 1, 1/2, ...........

In general

1/a, 1/a+d, 1/a+2d, ..................

Note:

Three convenient numbers in H.P. are . in

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1/ad, 1/a, 1/a+d
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Four convenient numbers in H.P. are

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1/a3d, 1/ad, 1/a+d, 1/a+3d

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Five convenient numbers in H.P. are

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1/a2d, 1/ad, 1/a, 1/a+d, 1/a+2d

Harmonic mean between two numbers a and b

Let H be the harmonic mean between two and number a and b.

So, a, H, b are in H.P.

or, 1/a, 1/H, 1/b are in A.P.

or, 1/H 1/a = 1/b 1/H.
or, 2/H = 1/a + 1/b = a+b/ab
H =2ab/a+b

Similarly, we can find two harmonic mean between two number.

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Let H1 and H2 be two harmonic mean between a and b.

So, a, H1, H2, b are in H.P.

or, 1/a, 1/H1 1/H2, 1/b are in A.P.

Using the formula,

tn = a + (n1)d, we get,

1/b 1/a = 3d., where d is the common difference of A.P.

Or, 3d = ab/ab

d = ab/3ab

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So, 1/H1 = 1/a + d = 1/a + ab/3ab = a+2b/3ab
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and 1/H2 = 1/a + 2d = 1/a + 2(ab)/3ab = 2a+2b/3ab

Summary of Important Notes

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If a and b are two non-zero numbers, then the harmonic mean of a and b is a
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number H such that the numbers a, H, b are in H.P. We have H = 1/H = 1/2
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(1/a + 1/b) H = 2ab/a+b.

If a1, a2, , an are n non-zero numbers. then the harmonic mean H of these
number is given by 1/H = 1/n (1/a1 + 1/a2 +...+ 1/an).
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The n numbers H1, H2, , Hn are said to be harmonic means between a and
b, if a, H1, H2 , Hn, b are in H.P. i.e. if 1/a, 1/H1, 1/H2, ..., 1/Hn, 1/b are in A.P.
Let d be the common difference of the A.P., Then 1/b = 1/a + (n+1) d d = a
b/(n+1)ab.

Thus 1/H1 = 1/a + ab/(n+1)ab, 1/H2 = 1/a + 2(an)/(n+1)ab, ......, 1/Hn = 1/a + n(a
b)/(n+1)ab.

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Illustration:
Find the 4th and 8th term of the series 6, 4, 3,
Solution:
Consider1/6, /14, 1/3, ......
Here T2 T1 = T3 T2 = 1/12 1/6, 1/4, 1/3 is an A.P.
4th term of this A.P. = 1/6 + 3 1/12 = 1/6 + 1/4 = 5/12,
And the 8th term = 1/6 + 7 1/12 = 9/12.
Hence the 8th term of the H.P. = 12/9 = 4/3 and the 4th term = 12/5.

Illustration:
If a, b, c are in H.P., show that a/b+c, b/c+a, c/a+b are also in H.P.
Solution:
Given that a, b, c are in H.P.
1/a, 1/b, 1/c are in A.P.

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a+b+c/a, a+b+c/b, a+b+c/c are in A.P.
1 + b+c/a, 1 + c+a/b, 1 + a+b/c are in A.P. .
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b+c/a, c+a/b, a+b/c are in A.P.
a/b+c, b/c+a, c/a+b are in H.P.
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Some Important Results

1 + 2 + 3 ++ n = n/2(n + 1) (sum of first n natural numbers).
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12 + 22 + 32 ++ n2 = n(n+1)(2n+1)/6 (sum of the squares of first n natural

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numbers).
13 + 23 + 33 ++ n3 = n2(n+1)2/4 = (1 + 2 + 3 ++ n)2 (sum of the cubes of first n
natural numbers).
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(1 x)1 = 1 + x + x2 + x3 + 1 < x < 1.

2 2
(1 x) = 1 + 2x + 3x + 1 < x < 1.

Illustration:
Find the nth term and the sum of n terms of the series 1.2.4 + 2.3.5 + 3.4.6 +
Solution:
rth term of the series = r(r+1).(r+3)=r3 + 4r2 + 3r
So sum of n terms = nr=1 r3 + 4nr=1 r2 + 3nr=1 r
= (n(n+1)/2)2 + 4 n(n+1)(2n+1)/6 + 3n(n+1)/2 = n(n+1)/12 {3n 2 + 19n + 26}.

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Illustration:
Find the sum of the series 1.n + 2(n1) + 3.(n2) ++ n.1.
Solution:
The rth term of the series is
tr = (1 + (r 1).1)(n + (r1)(1))
= r(n r + 1) = r(n + 1) r2
Sn= nr=1 trnr=1 (n+1)r nr=1 r2 = (n+1) n.(n+1)/2 n(n+1)(2n+1)/6
= n.(n+1)/2 [n + 1 2n+1/3] = n(n+1)(n2)/6.

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