harmonic number
The harmonic number of order n of θ is defined as
Hθ(n)=n∑i=11iθ |
Note that n may be equal to ∞, provided θ>1.
If θ≤1, while n=∞, the harmonic series does not converge and hence the harmonic number does not exist.
If θ=1, we may just write Hθ(n) as Hn (this is a common notation).
-
•
If ℜ(θ)>1 and n=∞ then the sum is the Riemann zeta function
.
-
•
If θ=1, then we get what is known simply as“the harmonic number”, and it has many important properties. For example, it has asymptotic expansion Hn=lnn+γ+12m+… where γ is Euler’s constant.
-
•
It is possible11See “The Art of computer programming” vol. 2 by D. Knuth to define harmonic numbers for non-integral n. This is done by means of the series Hn(z)=∑n≥1(n-z-(n+x)-z).
Title | harmonic number |
Canonical name | HarmonicNumber |
Date of creation | 2013-03-22 13:01:28 |
Last modified on | 2013-03-22 13:01:28 |
Owner | mathcam (2727) |
Last modified by | mathcam (2727) |
Numerical id | 10 |
Author | mathcam (2727) |
Entry type | Definition |
Classification | msc 26A06 |
Classification | msc 40A05 |
Related topic | Series |
Related topic | AbsoluteConvergence |
Related topic | HarmonicSeries |
Related topic | PrimeHarmonicSeries |
Related topic | WolstenholmesTheorem |
Defines | harmonic number of order |