Solution Found!
Unlike a decreasing geometric series, the sum of the harmonic series 1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4
Chapter 1, Problem 1.5(choose chapter or problem)
Unlike a decreasing geometric series, the sum of the harmonic series 1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, . . . diverges;that is, Xi=11i= .It turns out that, for large n, the sum of the first n terms of this series can be well approximatedasXni=11i ln n + ,where ln is natural logarithm (log base e = 2.718 . . .) and is a particular constant 0.57721 . . ..Show thatXni=11i= (log n).(Hint: To show an upper bound, decrease each denominator to the next power of two. For a lowerbound, increase each denominator to the next power of 2.)
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
Unlike a decreasing geometric series, the sum of the harmonic series 1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, . . . diverges;that is, Xi=11i= .It turns out that, for large n, the sum of the first n terms of this series can be well approximatedasXni=11i ln n + ,where ln is natural logarithm (log base e = 2.718 . . .) and is a particular constant 0.57721 . . ..Show thatXni=11i= (log n).(Hint: To show an upper bound, decrease each denominator to the next power of two. For a lowerbound, increase each denominator to the next power of 2.)
ANSWER:Step 1 of 3
Upper bound:
1 + 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + 1/5 + 1/6 + 1/7 …. + 1/n <= 1 + (1/2 +1/2) + (1/4 + 1/4 + 1/4 + 1/4) + ..