Talk:Harmonic series (mathematics)

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[edit] Divergence proofs

can someone explain better why the harmonic series converges? I couldn't follow through in this explanation.

Umm, but the harmoic series does not converge. As the article says, it diverges. Gandalf61 09:44, Feb 6, 2005 (UTC)

I learned the harmonic series is equal to the integral:

as well as a proof based on geometric series (proven by Euler). Do I need to put the proof in the article?

I do not see the need for the proof, as the one in there now is quite easy (as proofs go) to understand. I am not aware of the proof you refer to, off the top of my head, so if indeed it is a really neat one, perhaps you could add it. But my default reaction is no.

Are you asking whether to include the integral identity? If so, I would say go ahead. But note by saying this I am not vouching for its accuracy.

Baccyak4H 17:29, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

Actually, I would suggest not to include the identity, since the page on harmonic numbers has it. It is better there. Baccyak4H 14:11, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

Is there a reason that Jakob Bernoulli's 1689 proof isn't cited? It's rather clever and generally regarded as the standard early proof; I hadn't heard of the medieval guy's proof before, though.