HARMONIC

SEQUENCE
PRESENTED BY; RINA TABAG AND ANGELICA PONCE
Definition of Harmonic
Sequence
● Harmonic sequence, in mathematics, a sequence
of numbers a1, a2, a3,… such that their
reciprocals 1/a1, 1/a2, 1/a3,… form an arithmetic
sequence (numbers separated by a common
difference). The best-known harmonic sequence,
and the one typically meant when the harmonic
sequence is mentioned, is 1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4,…,
whose corresponding arithmetic sequence is
simply the counting numbers 1, 2, 3, 4,….
● A harmonic progression is a sequence of real numbers
formed by taking the reciprocals of an arithmetic
progression. Equivalently, it is a sequence of real
numbers such that any term in the sequence is the
harmonic mean of its two neighbors.
● There are general method if finding the sum of a
harmonic progression
● The sequence is “ a1, a2….,an” is a harmonic progression.
“1/a1, 1/a2,...1/an” forms an arithmetic sequence
Examples of Harmonic Sequence
1. Find the 7th term of the harmonic sequence of ½ , ¼, ⅙ ?

a1 = 2 d=2

an = a1 + (n-1)d

a7 = 2 + (n-1)2

a7 = 2 + (7-1)2

a7 = 2 + (6)2

a7 = 2(12)

a7 = 24

The harmonic sequence is 1/24

 Examples of Harmonic Sequence
2. Find the 12th term of the harmonic sequence 6/7, 6/13,
6/19?

a1 = 7 d=6

an = a1 + (n-1)d

a12 = 7 + (12-1)6

a12 = 7 + (11)6

a12 = 7 + 66

a12 = 73

The harmonic sequence is 1/73

 Examples of Harmonic Sequence
3. In the harmonic sequence ⅓ , ⅙, 1/9, 1/12 which term is
1/39?
36 = 3n - 3
an= 39 a1 = 3 d=3
39 = 3n - 3
an = a1 + (n-1)d
39 = 3n
39 = 3 + (n-1)3
3 3
39 = 3 + 3n - 3
n = 13 Therefore 1/ 39 is the 13th term
39 - 3 = 3n - 3
of the harmonic sequence
 Examples of Harmonic Sequence

4. Find the 14th term of 1/- a14 = -10 + (14-1)7

10 ,1/-3, 1/-4?
= -10 + (13) 7
an = 14
= -10 + 91
a1 = -10
= 81 or 1/81
d=7
 Find the first term of a harmonic sequence whose
fifth term is 1/28 and whose 30 term is 1/178

A5 = 28
28 = a1 + (5-1)d
A30 = 178
28 = a1 + 4d equation 1
A1 = ?

D=? A30 = a1 + (n-1)d

First, we have to find common 178 = a1 + (30-1)d
different
178 = a1 + 29d equation 2
A5 = a1 + (n-1)d
 Example 5 of harmonic sequence
Before to solve a1, use Then, We can now solve a1, by
elimination or subtract eq 1 substituting 6 in place of d in eq.1
from eq 2
28 = a1 + 4(6)
178 = a1 + 29d
28 = a1 + 24
- 28 = a1 + 4d
Subtract 24 from both side
150 = 25d
4 = a1
Divide both side by 25
Therefore, ¼ is the first term of
Then the common difference is the harmonic sequence.
 Thank you
for listening