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 1/ad, 1/a, 1/a+d Four convenient numbers in H.P. are 1/a3d, 1/ad, 1/a+d, 1/a+3d Five convenient numbers in H.P. are 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, or, or, 1/a, 1/H, 1/b are in A.P. 1/H 1/a = 1/b 1/H. 2/H = 1/a + 1/b = a+b/ab H =2ab/a+b

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

Let H1 and H2 be two harmonic mean between a and b. So, or, a, H1, H2, b are in H.P. 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 So, 1/H1 = 1/a + d = 1/a + ab/3ab = a+2b/3ab and 1/H2 = 1/a + 2d = 1/a + 2(ab)/3ab = 2a+2b/3ab Summary of Important Notes If a and b are two non-zero numbers, then the harmonic mean of a and b is a number H such that the numbers a, H, b are in H.P. We have H = 1/H = 1/2 (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). 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 = ab/(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(ab)/(n+1)ab.

Solved Examples Based on Harmonic mean

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. 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. 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.

Some Important Results 1 + 2 + 3 ++ n = n/2(n + 1) (sum of first n natural numbers). 12 + 22 + 32 ++ n2 = n(n+1)(2n+1)/6 (sum of the squares of first n natural numbers). 13 + 23 + 33 ++ n3 = n2(n+1)2/4 = (1 + 2 + 3 ++ n)2 (sum of the cubes of first n natural numbers). (1 x)1 = 1 + x + x2 + x3 + 1 < x < 1.

 (1 x)2 = 1 + 2x + 3x2 +

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 So sum of n terms = = r(r+1).(r+3)=r3 + 4r2 + 3r 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 {3n2 + 19n + 26}.

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 tr nr=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.

Relation between A.M., G.M. and H.M. Let there are two numbers a and b, a, b > 0 then AM = a+b/2

GM =ab HM =2ab/a+b AM HM =a+b/2 2ab/a+b = ab = (ab)2 = (GM)2 Note that these means are in G.P. Hence AM.GM.HM follows the rules of G.P. i.e. G.M. =A.M. H.M. Now, let us see the difference between AM and GM AM GM =a+b/2 ab =(a2)+(b)2ab/2 i.e. AM > GM Similarly, G.M. H.M. = ab 2ab/a+b =ab/a+b (a b)2 > 0 So. GM > HM Combining both results, we get AM > GM > HM .. (12)

All sequences of numbers cannot be put into A.P./G.P./H.P. Let us study these. Important Points: r3 (r 1)3 = 3 r2 3r + 1 r = 1 : 13 0 = 3 . 1 2 3 . 1 + 1 r = 2 : 23 13 = 3 . 22 3 . 2 + 1 r = 3 : 33 23 = 3 . 32 3 . 3 + 1 r = n : n3 (n1)3 = 3.(n2) 3(n) + 1

Adding n3 = 3 (12 + 22 ++ n2) 3 (1 + 2 + 3 ++ n) + (1 + 1 ++ n times) n3 = 3 nr=1 r2 3 (n(n+1))/2 + n 3 nr=1 r2 = n3 + 3n(n+1)/2 n = n/2 (2n2 + 3n + 1)

nr=1 r2 = n(n+1)(2n+1)/6

Method of Differences Suppose a1, a2, a3, is a sequence such that the sequence a2 a1, a3 a3, is either an. A.P. or a G.P. The nth term, of this sequence is obtained as follows: S = a1 + a2 + a3 ++ an1 + an S = a1 + a2 ++ an2 + an1 + an (1) (2)

Subtracting (2) from (1), we get, an = a1 + [(a2a1) + (a3a2)++(anan1)]. Since the terms within the brackets are either in an A.P. or a G.P., we can find the value of an, the nth term. We can now find the sum of the n terms of the sequence as S = nk=1 ak. F corresponding to the sequence a1, a2, a3, , an, there exists a sequence b0, b1, b2, , bn such that ak = bk bk1, then sum of n terms of the sequence a1, a2, , an is bn b0. Illustration: Find the sum of 1st n terms of the series 5, 7, 11, 17, 25, Solution: Let S = 5 + 7 + 11 + 17 + 25 ++ tn. Also S = 5 + 7 + 11 + 17 + + tn1 + tn. Subtracting we get

0 = 5 + 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 ++ nth term tn tn = 5 + 2 {n(n1)/2}. or tn = n2 n + 5 Sn = n2 n + 5 1 = n(n+1)(2n+1)/6 n(n+1)/2 + 5n = n/6 {(n + 1)(2n + 1) 3(n + 1) + 30} = n/6 (2n2 + 28). Illustrations based on Vn method Illustration: Find the sum of the series 1/1.2.3.4 + 1/2.3.4.5 +...... n terms. Solution: Let Tr =1/r(r+1)(r+2)(r+3) = 1/3 [(r+3)r]/r(r+1)(r+2)(r+3) =1/3 [1/r(r+1)(r+2) 1/(r+1)(r+2)(r+3)] = 1/3 [Vr1 Vr] Sn = nr=1 Tr = 1/3nr=1 [Vr1 Vr] = 1/3 [V0 Vn] = 1/3 [1/1.2.3 1/(n+1)(n+2)(n+3)] Illustration: Find the sum of the series 1.2.3.4.5 + 2.3.4.5.6 + n terms. Solution: Let Tr = r(r + 1)(r + 2)(r + 3)(r + 4) = 1/6 [(r+5)(r1)] r(r + 1)(r + 2)(r + 3)(r+ 4) = 1/6 [r(r+1)(r+5)(r+4)] = [Vr Vr1] S = 1/6 nr=f [Vr Vr1] = 1/6 [Vn V0] = 1/6[n(n + 1)(n + 2)(n + 3)(n + 4)(n + 5)].

Examples based on Relation between AM GM HM Illustration:

Evaluate: 12 + 22 + 32 + 42 + 52 Solution: 5r=1 r2 = 5(5+1)(2.5+1)/6 = 55 Illustration:

Evaluate: 62 + 72 + 82 + 92 + 102 Solution: Required sum = 12 + 22 + 32 + +102 (12 + 22 + 52) = 10r=1 r2 5r=1 r2 = 10(10+1)(2.10+1)/6 5(5+1)(2.5+1)6 = 385 55 = 330 Illustration:

Evaluate : 12 + 32 + 52 ++ (2n1)2 Solution: Note:

There are n in terms in the series. Required sum = 12 + 22 + 32 + 42 ++ (2n1)2 + (2n)2 (22 + 42 ++ (2n)2) = (2n)(2n+1)(4n+1)/6 4 (12 + 22 + + n2) = (2n)(2n+1)(4n+1)/6 4 . n(n+1)(2n+1)/6 =n(4n21)/3 Illustration:

Sum: 1 . 2 + 2 . 3 + 3 . 4 + + n.(n+1) Solution: tr = r(r+1) = r2 + r t1 = 12 + 1 t2 = 22 + 2 t3 = 32 + 3 tn = n2 + n Adding t1 = t2 + t3 ++ tn = (12 + 22 + 32 ++ n2)+(1+2+3++n). nr=1 tr = nr=1 r2 + nr=1 r Sn = n(n+1)(2n+1)/6 + n(n+1)/2 = n(n+1)/6 [2n + 1 + 3] = n(n+1)/6 (2n + 4) =n(n+1)(n+2)/3 Illustration: Sum to n-terms =1/1.2 + 1/2.3 + 1/3.4 +......+ 1/n(n+1) Solution: tr = 1/r(r+1) = 1/r 1/r+1 t1 = 1 1/2 t2 = 1/2 1/3 t3 = 1/3 1/4 t4 = 1/4 1/5 tn =1/n 1/n+1 Adding nr=1 tr = 1 1/n+1 = n/n+1 Factorial: Factorial of a natural number n is defined as the product of first n natural numbers and it is noted n or n! |0 = 1 (by definition)

|1 = 1 |2 = 2. |1 = 2 |3 = 3 . |2 = 3.2.1 = 6 |4 = 4 . |3 = 4.3.2.1 =24 |n = n |(n-1) Illustration: Evaluate the sum : 1 |1 + 2 |2 + 3 |3 + to n terms. Solution: tr = r |r = |r + 1 |r t1 = |2 |1 t2 = |3 |2 t3 = |4 |3 tn = |n + 1 |n nr=1 tr = |n + 1 1 Illustration: If x, y, z are positive real numbers, such that x + y + z = a, then prove that 1/x + 1/y + 1/z > 9/a. Solution: Since A.M. > H.M. x+y+z/3 > 3/x1+y1+z1 1/x + 1/y + 1/z > 9/a. Illustration: Prove that (a + b + c) (ab + bc + ca) > 9abc. Solution:

Using AM > GM, we have a+b+c/3 > (abc)1/3 and ab+bc+ca/3 > (ab.bc.ca)1/3. Multiplying these two results, we have (a+b+c/3)(ab+bc+ca/3) >(abc)1/3 (ab.bc.ca)1/3 or,(ab+bc+ca)(a+b+c)/9 > (a3b3c3)1/2 or, (a + b + c)(ab + bc + ca) > 9abc.