A007406 -id:A007406 - cp's OEIS frontend

A013661 Decimal expansion of Pi^2/6 = zeta(2) = Sum_{m>=1} 1/m^2.

1, 6, 4, 4, 9, 3, 4, 0, 6, 6, 8, 4, 8, 2, 2, 6, 4, 3, 6, 4, 7, 2, 4, 1, 5, 1, 6, 6, 6, 4, 6, 0, 2, 5, 1, 8, 9, 2, 1, 8, 9, 4, 9, 9, 0, 1, 2, 0, 6, 7, 9, 8, 4, 3, 7, 7, 3, 5, 5, 5, 8, 2, 2, 9, 3, 7, 0, 0, 0, 7, 4, 7, 0, 4, 0, 3, 2, 0, 0, 8, 7, 3, 8, 3, 3, 6, 2, 8, 9, 0, 0, 6, 1, 9, 7, 5, 8, 7, 0

Offset: 1

N. J. A. Sloane

"In 1736 he [Leonard Euler, 1707-1783] discovered the limit to the infinite series, Sum 1/n^2. He did it by doing some rather ingenious mathematics using trigonometric functions that proved the series summed to exactly Pi^2/6. How can this be? ... This demonstrates one of the most startling characteristics of mathematics - the interconnectedness of, seemingly, unrelated ideas." - Clawson [See Hardy and Wright, Theorems 332 and 333. - N. J. A. Sloane, Jan 20 2017]
Also dilogarithm(1). - Rick L. Shepherd, Jul 21 2004
Also Integral_{x>=0} x/(exp(x)-1) dx. [Abramowitz-Stegun, 23.2.7., for s=2, p. 807]
For the partial sums see the fractional sequence A007406/A007407.
Pi^2/6 is also the length of the circumference of a circle whose diameter equals the ratio of volume of an ellipsoid to the circumscribed cuboid. Pi^2/6 is also the length of the circumference of a circle whose diameter equals the ratio of surface area of a sphere to the circumscribed cube. - Omar E. Pol, Oct 07 2011
1 < n^2/(eulerphi(n)*sigma(n)) < zeta(2) for n > 1. - Arkadiusz Wesolowski, Sep 04 2012
Volume of a sphere inscribed in a cube of volume Pi. More generally, Pi^x/6 is the volume of an ellipsoid inscribed in a cuboid of volume Pi^(x-1). - Omar E. Pol, Feb 17 2016
Surface area of a sphere inscribed in a cube of surface area Pi. More generally, Pi^x/6 is the surface area of a sphere inscribed in a cube of surface area Pi^(x-1). - Omar E. Pol, Feb 19 2016
zeta(2)+1 is a weighted average of the integers, n > 2, using zeta(n)-1 as the weights for each n. We have: Sum_{n >= 2} (zeta(n)-1) = 1 and Sum_{n >= 2} n*(zeta(n)-1) = zeta(2)+1. - Richard R. Forberg, Jul 14 2016
zeta(2) is the expected value of sigma(n)/n. - Charlie Neder, Oct 22 2018
Graham shows that a rational number x can be expressed as a finite sum of reciprocals of distinct squares if and only if x is in [0, Pi^2/6-1) U [1, Pi^2/6). See section 4 for other results and Theorem 5 for the underlying principle. - Charles R Greathouse IV, Aug 04 2020
From Peter Bala, Aug 24 2025: (Start)
By definition, zeta(2) = lim_{n -> oo} s(n), where s(n) = Sum_{k = 1..n} 1/k^2. The convergence is slow. For example, s(50) = 1.6(25...) is only correct to 1 decimal digit.
Let S(n) = Sum_{k = 0..n} (-1)^(n+k)*binomial(n, k)*binomial(n+k, k)*s(n+k). It appears that S(n) converges to zeta(2) much more rapidly. For example, S(50) = 1.64493406684822643647241516664602(137...) gives zeta(2) correct to 32 decimal digits. Cf. A073004. (End)

			1.6449340668482264364724151666460251892189499012067984377355582293700074704032...

M. Abramowitz and I. A. Stegun, eds., Handbook of Mathematical Functions, National Bureau of Standards Applied Math. Series 55, 1964 (and various reprintings), p. 811.
F. Aubonnet, D. Guinin and B. Joppin, Précis de Mathématiques, Analyse 2, Classes Préparatoires, Premier Cycle Universitaire, Bréal, 1990, Exercice 908, pages 82 and 91-92.
Calvin C. Clawson, Mathematical Mysteries, The Beauty and Magic of Numbers, Perseus Books, 1996, p. 97.
John H. Conway and Richard K. Guy, The Book of Numbers, New York: Springer-Verlag, 1996. See p. 262.
W. Dunham, Euler: The Master of Us All, The Mathematical Association of America, Washington, D.C., 1999, p. xxii.
Steven R. Finch, Mathematical Constants, Encyclopedia of Mathematics and its Applications, vol. 94, Cambridge University Press, 2003, Sections 1.4.1 and 5.16, pp. 20, 365.
Hardy and Wright, 'An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers'. See Theorems 332 and 333.
A. A. Markoff, Mémoire sur la transformation de séries peu convergentes en séries très convergentes, Mém. de l'Acad. Imp. Sci. de St. Pétersbourg, XXXVII, 1890.
Paulo Ribenboim, The Little Book of Bigger Primes, Springer-Verlag NY 2004. See pp. 10, 161-162.
G. F. Simmons, Calculus Gems, Section B.15, B.24, pp. 270-271, 323-325, McGraw Hill, 1992.
Arnold Walfisz, Weylsche Exponentialsummen in der neueren Zahlentheorie, Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften, Berlin, 1963, p. 99, Satz 1.
A. Weil, Number theory: an approach through history; from Hammurapi to Legendre, Birkhäuser, Boston, 1984; see p. 261.
David Wells, The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers, Revised Edition, Penguin Books, London, England, 1997, page 23.

Harry J. Smith, Table of n, a(n) for n = 1..20000
M. Abramowitz and I. A. Stegun, eds., Handbook of Mathematical Functions, National Bureau of Standards, Applied Math. Series 55, Tenth Printing, 1972 [alternative scanned copy].
D. H. Bailey, J. M. Borwein, and D. M. Bradley, Experimental determination of Apéry-like identities for zeta(4n+2), arXiv:math/0505270 [math.NT], 2005-2006.
Peter Bala, New series for old functions.
Peter Bala, Formulas for A013661.
David Benko and John Molokach, The Basel Problem as a Rearrangement of Series, The College Mathematics Journal, Vol. 44, No. 3 (May 2013), pp. 171-176.
R. Calinger, Leonhard Euler: The First St. Petersburg Years (1727-1741), Historia Mathematica, Vol. 23, 1996, pp. 121-166.
Robin Chapman, Evaluating Zeta(2).
R. W. Clickery, Probability of two numbers being coprime.
Alessio Del Vigna, On a solution to the Basel problem based on the fundamental theorem of calculus, arXiv:2104.01710 [math.HO], 2021.
Leonhard Euler, On the sums of series of reciprocals, arXiv:math/0506415 [math.HO], 2005-2008.
Leonhard Euler, De summis serierum reciprocarum, E41.
R. L. Graham, On finite sums of unit fractions, Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society, s3-14 (1964), pp. 193-207. doi:10.1112/plms/s3-14.2.193
Michael D. Hirschhorn, A simple proof that zeta(2) = Pi^2/6, The Mathematical Intelligencer 33:3 (2011), pp 81-82.
Melissa Larson, Verifying and discovering BBP-type formulas, 2008.
Alain Lasjaunias and Jean-Paul Tran, A note on the equality Pi^2/6 = Sum_{n>=1} 1/n^2, arXiv:2312.02245 [math.HO], 2023.
Math. Reference Project, The Zeta Function, Zeta(2).
Math. Reference Project, The Zeta Function, Odds That Two Numbers Are Coprime".
Romeo Mestrovic, Euclid's theorem on the infinitude of primes: a historical survey of its proofs (300 BC--2012) and another new proof, arXiv preprint arXiv:1202.3670 [math.HO], 2012.
Jon Perry, Prime Product Paradox
Simon Plouffe, Plouffe's Inverter, Zeta(2) or Pi**2/6 to 100000 digits.
Simon Plouffe, Zeta(2) or Pi**2/6 to 10000 places.
Simon Plouffe, Zeta(2) to Zeta(4096) to 2048 digits each (gzipped file)
A. L. Robledo, value of the Riemann zeta function at s=2, PlanetMath.org.
E. Sandifer, How Euler Did It, Estimating the Basel Problem.
E. Sandifer, How Euler Did It, Basel Problem with Integrals.
C. Tooth, Pi squared over six.
Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics, Dilogarithm.
Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics, Riemann Zeta Function zeta(2).
Wikipedia, Basel Problem.
Wikipedia, Bailey-Borwein-Plouffe formula.
Herbert S. Wilf, Accelerated series for universal constants, by the WZ method, Discrete Mathematics & Theoretical Computer Science, Vol 3, No 4 (1999).
Index entries for transcendental numbers.
Index entries for zeta function.

Cf. A001008 (H(n): numerators), A002805 (denominators), A013679 (continued fraction), A002117 (zeta(3)), A013631 (cont.frac. for zeta(3)), A013680 (cont.frac. for zeta(4)), 1/A059956, A108625, A142995, A142999.

Cf. A000290.

pi:=Pi(RealField(110)); Reverse(Intseq(Floor(10^105*pi^2/6))); // Vincenzo Librandi, Oct 13 2015

evalf(Pi^2/6,120); # Muniru A Asiru, Oct 25 2018
# Calculates an approximation with n exact decimal places (small deviation
# in the last digits are possible). Goes back to ideas of A. A. Markoff 1890.
zeta2 := proc(n) local q, s, w, v, k; q := 0; s := 0; w := 1; v := 4;
for k from 2 by 2 to 7*n/2 do
    w := w*v/k;
    q := q + v;
    v := v + 8;
    s := s + 1/(w*q);
od; 12*s; evalf[n](%) end:
zeta2(1000); # Peter Luschny, Jun 10 2020

RealDigits[N[Pi^2/6, 100]][[1]]
RealDigits[Zeta[2],10,120][[1]] (* Harvey P. Dale, Jan 08 2021 *)

fpprec : 100$ ev(bfloat(zeta(2)))$ bfloat(%); /* Martin Ettl, Oct 21 2012 */

PARI
```
default(realprecision, 200); Pi^2/6
```
PARI
```
default(realprecision, 200); dilog(1)
```
PARI
```
default(realprecision, 200); zeta(2)
```

A013661(n)={localprec(n+2); Pi^2/.6\10^n%10} \\ Corrected and improved by M. F. Hasler, Apr 20 2021

default(realprecision, 20080); x=Pi^2/6; for (n=1, 20000, d=floor(x); x=(x-d)*10; write("b013661.txt", n, " ", d)); \\ Harry J. Smith, Apr 29 2009

sumnumrat(1/x^2, 1) \\ Charles R Greathouse IV, Jan 20 2022

# Use some guard digits when computing.
# BBP formula (3 / 16) P(2, 64, 6, (16, -24, -8, -6,  1, 0)).
from decimal import Decimal as dec, getcontext
def BBPzeta2(n: int) -> dec:
    getcontext().prec = n
    s = dec(0); f = dec(1); g = dec(64)
    for k in range(int(n * 0.5536546824812272) + 1):
        sixk = dec(6 * k)
        s += f * ( dec(16) / (sixk + 1) ** 2 - dec(24) / (sixk + 2) ** 2
                 - dec(8)  / (sixk + 3) ** 2 - dec(6)  / (sixk + 4) ** 2
                 + dec(1)  / (sixk + 5) ** 2 )
        f /= g
    return (s * dec(3)) / dec(16)
print(BBPzeta2(2000))  # Peter Luschny, Nov 01 2023

Limit_{n->oo} (1/n)*(Sum_{k=1..n} frac((n/k)^(1/2))) = zeta(2) and in general we have lim_{n->oo} (1/n)*(Sum_{k=1..n} frac((n/k)^(1/m))) = zeta(m), m >= 2. - Yalcin Aktar, Jul 14 2005
Equals Integral_{x=0..1} (log(x)/(x-1)) dx or Integral_{x>=1} (log(x/(x-1))/x) dx. - Jean-François Alcover, May 30 2013
For s >= 2 (including Complex), zeta(s) = Product_{n >= 1} prime(n)^s/(prime(n)^s - 1). - Fred Daniel Kline, Apr 10 2014
Also equals 1 + Sum_{n>=0} (-1)^n*StieltjesGamma(n)/n!. - Jean-François Alcover, May 07 2014
zeta(2) = Sum_{n>=1} ((floor(sqrt(n)) - floor(sqrt(n-1)))/n). - Mikael Aaltonen, Jan 10 2015
zeta(2) = Sum_{n>=1} (((sqrt(5)-1)/2/sqrt(5))^n/n^2) + Sum_{n>=1} (((sqrt(5)+1)/2/sqrt(5))^n/ n^2) + log((sqrt(5)-1)/2/sqrt(5))log((sqrt(5)+1)/2/sqrt(5)). - Seiichi Kirikami, Oct 14 2015
The above formula can also be written zeta(2) = dilog(x) + dilog(y) + log(x)*log(y) where x = (1-1/sqrt(5))/2 and y=(1+1/sqrt(5))/2. - Peter Luschny, Oct 16 2015
zeta(2) = Integral_{x>=0} 1/(1 + e^x^(1/2)) dx, because (1 - 1/2^(s-1))*Gamma[1 + s]*Zeta[s] = Integral_{x>=0} 1/(1 + e^x^(1/s)) dx. After Jean-François Alcover in A002162. - Mats Granvik, Sep 12 2016
zeta(2) = Product_{n >= 1} (144*n^4)/(144*n^4 - 40*n^2 + 1). - Fred Daniel Kline, Oct 29 2016
zeta(2) = lim_{n->oo} (1/n) * Sum_{k=1..n} A017665(k)/A017666(k). - Dimitri Papadopoulos, May 10 2019 [See the Walfisz reference, and a comment in A284648, citing also the Sándor et al. Handbook. - Wolfdieter Lang, Aug 22 2019]
Equals Sum_{k>=1} H(k)/(k*(k+1)), where H(k) = A001008(k)/A002805(k) is the k-th harmonic number. - Amiram Eldar, Aug 16 2020
Equals (8/3)*(1/2)!^4 = (8/3)*Gamma(3/2)^4. - Gary W. Adamson, Aug 17 2021
Equals ((m+1)/m) * Integral_{x=0..1} log(Sum {k=0..m} x^k )/x dx, m > 0 (Aubonnet reference). - _Bernard Schott, Feb 11 2022
Equals 1 + Sum_{n>=1} n*(zeta(n+2)-1). - Richard R. Forberg, Jun 04 2023; improved by Natalia L. Skirrow, Jul 25 2025
Equals Psi'(1) where Psi'(x) is the trigamma function (by Abramowitz Stegun 6.4.2). - Andrea Pinos, Oct 22 2024
Equals Integral_{x=0..1} Integral_{y=0..1} 1/(1 - x*y) dy dx. - Kritsada Moomuang, May 22 2025
Equals 1 + Sum_{n>=1} 1/(n^2*(n+1)). - Natalia L. Skirrow, Jul 25 2025

Edited by N. J. A. Sloane, Nov 22 2023

A001008 a(n) = numerator of harmonic number H(n) = Sum_{i=1..n} 1/i.

Original entry on oeis.org

1, 3, 11, 25, 137, 49, 363, 761, 7129, 7381, 83711, 86021, 1145993, 1171733, 1195757, 2436559, 42142223, 14274301, 275295799, 55835135, 18858053, 19093197, 444316699, 1347822955, 34052522467, 34395742267, 312536252003, 315404588903, 9227046511387

Offset: 1

N. J. A. Sloane

H(n)/2 is the maximal distance that a stack of n cards can project beyond the edge of a table without toppling.
By Wolstenholme's theorem, p^2 divides a(p-1) for all primes p > 3.
From Alexander Adamchuk, Dec 11 2006: (Start)
p divides a(p^2-1) for all primes p > 3.
p divides a((p-1)/2) for primes p in A001220.
p divides a((p+1)/2) or a((p-3)/2) for primes p in A125854.
a(n) is prime for n in A056903. Corresponding primes are given by A067657. (End)
a(n+1) is the numerator of the polynomial A[1, n](1) where the polynomial A[genus 1, level n](m) is defined to be Sum_{d = 1..n - 1} m^(n - d)/d. (See the Mathematica procedure generating A[1, n](m) below.) - Artur Jasinski, Oct 16 2008
Better solutions to the card stacking problem have been found by M. Paterson and U. Zwick (see link). - Hugo Pfoertner, Jan 01 2012
a(n) = A213999(n, n-1). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jul 03 2012
a(n) coincides with A175441(n) if and only if n is not from the sequence A256102. The quotient a(n) / A175441(n) for n in A256102 is given as corresponding entry of A256103. - Wolfdieter Lang, Apr 23 2015
For a very short proof that the Harmonic series diverges, see the Goldmakher link. - N. J. A. Sloane, Nov 09 2015
All terms are odd while corresponding denominators (A002805) are all even for n > 1 (proof in Pólya and Szegő). - Bernard Schott, Dec 24 2021

			H(n) = [ 1, 3/2, 11/6, 25/12, 137/60, 49/20, 363/140, 761/280, 7129/2520, ... ].
Coincidences with A175441: the first 19 entries coincide because 20 is the first entry of A256102. Indeed, a(20)/A175441(20) = 55835135 / 11167027 = 5 = A256103(1). - _Wolfdieter Lang_, Apr 23 2015

John H. Conway and Richard K. Guy, The Book of Numbers, New York: Springer-Verlag, 1996. See pp. 258-261.
H. W. Gould, Combinatorial Identities, Morgantown Printing and Binding Co., 1972, # 1.45, page 6, #3.122, page 36.
R. L. Graham, D. E. Knuth and O. Patashnik, Concrete Mathematics. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1990, p. 259.
G. H. Hardy and E. M. Wright, An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers. 3rd ed., Oxford Univ. Press, 1954, page 347.
D. E. Knuth, The Art of Computer Programming. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, Vol. 1, p. 615.
G. Pólya and G. Szegő, Problems and Theorems in Analysis, volume II, Springer, reprint of the 1976 edition, 1998, problem 251, p. 154.
N. J. A. Sloane, A Handbook of Integer Sequences, Academic Press, 1973 (includes this sequence).
N. J. A. Sloane and Simon Plouffe, The Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, Academic Press, 1995 (includes this sequence).

Kenny Lau, Table of n, a(n) for n = 1..2295 (first 200 terms provided by T. D. Noe)
David H. Bailey, Jonathan M. Borwein, and Roland Girgensohn, Experimental evaluation of Euler sums, Exper. Math. 3(1) (1994), 17-30; they evaluate the constants Sum_{k>=1} H_k^m/(k+1)^n.
Hongwei Chen, Evaluations of Some Variant Euler Sums, Journal of Integer Sequences, Vol. 9 (2006), Article 06.2.3.
Hongwei Chen, Interesting Series Associated with Central Binomial Coefficients, Catalan Numbers and Harmonic Numbers, J. Int. Seq. 19 (2016), #16.1.5.
R. M. Dickau, Harmonic numbers and the book-stacking problem.
Leo Goldmakher, A short(er) proof of the divergence of the harmonic series.
Antal Iványi, Leader election in synchronous networks, Acta Univ. Sapientiae, Mathematica, 5, 2 (2013), 54-82.
Fredrik Johansson, How (not) to compute harmonic numbers. Feb 21 2009.
Masanobu Kaneko, The Akiyama-Tanigawa algorithm for Bernoulli numbers, J. Integer Sequences, 3 (2000), #00.2.9.
Romeo Mestrovic, Wolstenholme's theorem: Its Generalizations and Extensions in the last hundred and fifty years (1862-2011), arXiv preprint arXiv:1111.3057 [math.NT], 2011.
Jerry Metzger and Thomas Richards, A Prisoner Problem Variation, Journal of Integer Sequences, Vol. 18 (2015), Article 15.2.7.
Hisanori Mishima, Factorizations of Wolstenholme numbers, n=1..100, n=101..200, n=201..300.
Mike Paterson et al., Maximum Overhang.
Maxie D. Schmidt, Generalized j-Factorial Functions, Polynomials, and Applications, J. Int. Seq. 13 (2010), 10.6.7, Section 4.3.
Peter Shiu, The denominators of harmonic numbers, arXiv:1607.02863 [math.NT], 2016.
N. J. A. Sloane, Illustration of initial terms.
Jonathan Sondow and Eric W. Weisstein, MathWorld: Harmonic Number.
Roberto Tauraso, Some Congruences for Central Binomial Sums Involving Fibonacci and Lucas Numbers, JIS 19 (2016) # 16.5.4.
Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics, Book Stacking Problem, Wolstenholme's Theorem, Harmonic Mean, Digamma Function.
Wikipedia, Harmonic number.

Cf. A002805 (denominators), A007406, A007408, A007410, A075135, A001220, A125854, A121999, A014566, A056903, A067657, A177427, A177690.
Cf. A145609-A145640. - Artur Jasinski, Oct 16 2008
Cf. A003506. - Paul Curtz, Nov 30 2013
The following fractions are all related to each other: Sum 1/n: A001008/A002805, Sum 1/prime(n): A024451/A002110 and A106830/A034386, Sum 1/nonprime(n): A282511/A282512, Sum 1/composite(n): A250133/A296358.
Cf. A195505.

List([1..30],n->NumeratorRat(Sum([1..n],i->1/i))); # Muniru A Asiru, Dec 20 2018

import Data.Ratio ((%), numerator)
a001008 = numerator . sum . map (1 %) . enumFromTo 1
a001008_list = map numerator $ scanl1 (+) $ map (1 %) [1..]
-- Reinhard Zumkeller, Jul 03 2012

[Numerator(HarmonicNumber(n)): n in [1..30]]; // Bruno Berselli, Feb 17 2016

A001008 := proc(n)
    add(1/k,k=1..n) ;
    numer(%) ;
end proc:
seq( A001008(n),n=1..40) ; # Zerinvary Lajos, Mar 28 2007; R. J. Mathar, Dec 02 2016

Table[Numerator[HarmonicNumber[n]], {n, 30}]
(* Procedure generating A[1,n](m) (see Comments section) *) m =1; aa = {}; Do[k = 0; Do[k = k + m^(r - d)/d, {d, 1, r - 1}]; AppendTo[aa, k], {r, 1, 20}]; aa (* Artur Jasinski, Oct 16 2008 *)
Numerator[Accumulate[1/Range[25]]] (* Alonso del Arte, Nov 21 2018 *)
Numerator[Table[((n - 1)/2)*HypergeometricPFQ[{1, 1, 2 - n}, {2, 3}, 1] + 1, {n, 1, 29}]] (* Artur Jasinski, Jan 08 2021 *)

A001008(n) = numerator(sum(i=1,n,1/i)) \\ Michael B. Porter, Dec 08 2009

H1008=List(1); A001008(n)={for(k=#H1008,n-1,listput(H1008,H1008[k]+1/(k+1))); numerator(H1008[n])} \\ about 100x faster for n=1..1500. - M. F. Hasler, Jul 03 2019

from sympy import Integer
[sum(1/Integer(i) for i in range(1, n + 1)).numerator() for n in range(1, 31)]  # Indranil Ghosh, Mar 23 2017

def harmonic(a, b):  # See the F. Johansson link.
    if b - a == 1:
        return 1, a
    m = (a+b)//2
    p, q = harmonic(a,m)
    r, s = harmonic(m,b)
    return p*s+q*r, q*s
def A001008(n): H = harmonic(1,n+1); return numerator(H[0]/H[1])
[A001008(n) for n in (1..29)] # Peter Luschny, Sep 01 2012

H(n) ~ log n + gamma + O(1/n). [See Hardy and Wright, Th. 422.]
log n + gamma - 1/n < H(n) < log n + gamma + 1/n [follows easily from Hardy and Wright, Th. 422]. - David Applegate and N. J. A. Sloane, Oct 14 2008
G.f. for H(n): log(1-x)/(x-1). - Benoit Cloitre, Jun 15 2003
H(n) = sqrt(Sum_{i = 1..n} Sum_{j = 1..n} 1/(i*j)). - Alexander Adamchuk, Oct 24 2004
a(n) is the numerator of Gamma/n + Psi(1 + n)/n = Gamma + Psi(n), where Psi is the digamma function. - Artur Jasinski, Nov 02 2008
H(n) = 3/2 + 2*Sum_{k = 0..n-3} binomial(k+2, 2)/((n-2-k)*(n-1)*n), n > 1. - Gary Detlefs, Aug 02 2011
H(n) = (-1)^(n-1)*(n+1)*n*Sum_{k = 0..n-1} k!*Stirling2(n-1, k) * Stirling1(n+k+1,n+1)/(n+k+1)!. - Vladimir Kruchinin, Feb 05 2013
H(n) = n*Sum_{k = 0..n-1} (-1)^k*binomial(n-1,k)/(k+1)^2. (Wenchang Chu) - Gary Detlefs, Apr 13 2013
H(n) = (1/2)*Sum_{k = 1..n} (-1)^(k-1)*binomial(n,k)*binomial(n+k, k)/k. (H. W. Gould) - Gary Detlefs, Apr 13 2013
E.g.f. for H(n) = a(n)/A002805(n): (gamma + log(x) - Ei(-x)) * exp(x), where gamma is the Euler-Mascheroni constant, and Ei(x) is the exponential integral. - Vladimir Reshetnikov, Apr 24 2013
H(n) = residue((psi(-s)+gamma)^2/2, {s, n}) where psi is the digamma function and gamma is the Euler-Mascheroni constant. - Jean-François Alcover, Feb 19 2014
H(n) = Sum_{m >= 1} n/(m^2 + n*m) = gamma + digamma(1+n), numerators and denominators. (see Mathworld link on Digamma). - Richard R. Forberg, Jan 18 2015
H(n) = (1/2) Sum_{j >= 1} Sum_{k = 1..n} ((1 - 2*k + 2*n)/((-1 + k + j*n)*(k + j*n))) + log(n) + 1/(2*n). - Dimitri Papadopoulos, Jan 13 2016
H(n) = (n!)^2*Sum_{k = 1..n} 1/(k*(n-k)!*(n+k)!). - Vladimir Kruchinin, Mar 31 2016
a(n) = Stirling1(n+1, 2) / gcd(Stirling1(n+1, 2), n!) = A000254(n) / gcd(A000254(n), n!). - Max Alekseyev, Mar 01 2018
From Peter Bala, Jan 31 2019: (Start)
H(n) = 1 + (1 + 1/2)*(n-1)/(n+1) + (1/2 + 1/3)*(n-1)*(n-2)/((n+1)*(n+2)) + (1/3 + 1/4)*(n-1)*(n-2)*(n-3)/((n+1)*(n+2)*(n+3)) + ... .
H(n)/n  = 1 + (1/2^2 - 1)*(n-1)/(n+1) + (1/3^2 - 1/2^2)*(n-1)*(n-2)/((n+1)*(n+2)) + (1/4^2 - 1/3^2)*(n-1)*(n-2)*(n-3)/((n+1)*(n+2)*(n+3)) + ... .
For odd n >= 3, (1/2)*H((n-1)/2) = (n-1)/(n+1) + (1/2)*(n-1)*(n-3)/((n+1)*(n+3)) + 1/3*(n-1)*(n-3)*(n-5)/((n+1)*(n+3)*(n+5)) + ... . Cf. A195505. See the Bala link in A036970. (End)
H(n) = ((n-1)/2) * hypergeom([1,1,2-n], [2,3], 1) + 1. - Artur Jasinski, Jan 08 2021
Conjecture: for nonzero m, H(n) = (1/m)*Sum_{k = 1..n} ((-1)^(k+1)/k) * binomial(m*k,k)*binomial(n+(m-1)*k,n-k). The case m = 1 is well-known; the case m = 2 is given above by Detlefs (dated Apr 13 2013). - Peter Bala, Mar 04 2022
a(n) = the (reduced) numerator of the continued fraction 1/(1 - 1^2/(3 - 2^2/(5 - 3^2/(7 - ... - (n-1)^2/(2*n-1))))). - Peter Bala, Feb 18 2024
H(n) = Sum_{k=1..n} (-1)^(k-1)*binomial(n,k)/k (H. W. Gould). - Gary Detlefs, May 28 2024

Edited by Max Alekseyev, Oct 21 2011

Changed title, deleting the incorrect name "Wolstenholme numbers" which conflicted with the definition of the latter in both Weisstein's World of Mathematics and in Wikipedia, as well as with OEIS A007406. - Stanislav Sykora, Mar 25 2016

A002805 Denominators of harmonic numbers H(n) = Sum_{i=1..n} 1/i.

Original entry on oeis.org

1, 2, 6, 12, 60, 20, 140, 280, 2520, 2520, 27720, 27720, 360360, 360360, 360360, 720720, 12252240, 4084080, 77597520, 15519504, 5173168, 5173168, 118982864, 356948592, 8923714800, 8923714800, 80313433200, 80313433200, 2329089562800, 2329089562800, 72201776446800

Offset: 1

N. J. A. Sloane

H(n)/2 is the maximal distance that a stack of n cards can project beyond the edge of a table without toppling.
If n is not in {1, 2, 6} then a(n) has at least one prime factor other than 2 or 5. E.g., a(5) = 60 has a prime factor 3 and a(7) = 140 has a prime factor 7. This implies that every H(n) = A001008(n)/A002805(n), n not from {1, 2, 6}, has an infinite decimal representation. For a proof see the J. Havil reference. - Wolfdieter Lang, Jun 29 2007
a(n) = A213999(n,n-1). - Reinhard Zumkeller, Jul 03 2012
From Wolfdieter Lang, Apr 16 2015: (Start)
a(n)/A001008(n) = 1/H(n) is the solution of the following version of the classical cistern and pipes problem. A cistern is connected to n different pipes of water. For the k-th pipe it takes k time units (say, days) to fill the empty cistern, for k = 1, 2, ..., n. How long does it take for the n pipes together to fill the empty cistern? 1/H(n) gives the answer as a fraction of the time unit.
In general, if the k-th pipe needs d(k) days to fill the empty cistern then all pipes together need 1/Sum_{k=1..n} 1/d(k) = HM(d(1), ..., d(n))/n days, where HM denotes the harmonic mean HM. For the described problem, HM(1, 2, ..., n)/n = A102928(n)/(n*A175441(n)) = 1/H(n).
For a classical cistern and pipes problem see, e.g., the Hunger-Vogel reference (in Greek and German) given in A256101, problem 27, p. 29, where n = 3, and d(1), d(2) and d(3) are 6, 4 and 3 days. On p. 97 of this reference one finds remarks on the history of such problems (called in German 'Brunnenaufgabe'). (End)
From Wolfdieter Lang, Apr 17 2015: (Start)
An example of the above mentioned cistern and pipes problems appears in Chiu Chang Suan Shu (nine books on arithmetic) in book VI, problem 26. The numbers are there 1/2, 1, 5/2, 3 and 5 (days) and the result is 15/75 (day). See the reference (in German) on p. 68.
A historical account on such cistern problems is found in the Johannes Tropfke reference, given in A256101, section 4.2.1.2 Zisternenprobleme (Leistungsprobleme), pp. 578-579.
In Fibonacci's Liber Abaci such problems appear on p. 281 and p. 284 of L. E. Sigler's translation. (End)
All terms > 1 are even while corresponding numerators (A001008) are all odd (proof in Pólya and Szegő). - Bernard Schott, Dec 24 2021

			H(n) = [ 1, 3/2, 11/6, 25/12, 137/60, 49/20, 363/140, 761/280, 7129/2520, ... ] = A001008/A002805.

Chiu Chang Suan Shu, Neun Bücher arithmetischer Technik, translated and commented by Kurt Vogel, Ostwalds Klassiker der exakten Wissenschaften, Band 4, Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig, 1968, p. 68.
John H. Conway and Richard K. Guy, The Book of Numbers, New York: Springer-Verlag, 1996. See pp. 258-261.
R. L. Graham, D. E. Knuth and O. Patashnik, Concrete Mathematics. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1990, p. 259.
J. Havil, Gamma, (in German), Springer, 2007, p. 35-6; Gamma: Exploring Euler's Constant, Princeton Univ. Press, 2003.
D. E. Knuth, The Art of Computer Programming. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, Vol. 1, p. 615.
G. Pólya and G. Szegő, Problems and Theorems in Analysis, volume II, Springer, reprint of the 1976 edition, 1998, problem 251, p. 154.
L. E. Sigler, Fibonacci's Liber Abaci, Springer, 2003, pp. 281, 284.
N. J. A. Sloane, A Handbook of Integer Sequences, Academic Press, 1973 (includes this sequence).
N. J. A. Sloane and Simon Plouffe, The Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, Academic Press, 1995 (includes this sequence).

Kenny Lau, Table of n, a(n) for n = 1..2308 [First 200 terms computed by T. D. Noe]
R. M. Dickau, Harmonic numbers and the book stacking problem.
Haight, Frank A., and Robert B. Jones., "A probabilistic treatment of qualitative data with special reference to word association tests." Journal of Mathematical Psychology 11.3 (1974): 237-244. [Annotated scanned copy]
Frank Haight and N. J. A. Sloane, Correspondence, 1975.
Antal Iványi, Leader election in synchronous networks, Acta Univ. Sapientiae, Mathematica, 5, 2 (2013) 54-82.
Fredrik Johansson, How (not) to compute harmonic numbers, Feb 21 2009.
Peter Shiu, The denominators of harmonic numbers, arXiv:1607.02863 [math.NT], 2016.
N. J. A. Sloane, Illustration of initial terms.
Jonathan Sondow and Eric W. Weisstein, MathWorld: Harmonic Number.
Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics, Book Stacking Problem.
Bing-Ling Wu, Yong-Gao Chen, On the denominators of harmonic numbers, arXiv:1711.00184 [math.NT], 2017.

Cf. A001008 (numerators), A075135, A025529, A203810, A203811, A203812.
Partial sums: A027612/A027611 = 1, 5/2, 13/3, 77/12, 87/10, 223/20,...
The following fractions are all related to each other: Sum 1/n: A001008/A002805, Sum 1/prime(n): A024451/A002110 and A106830/A034386, Sum 1/nonprime(n): A282511/A282512, Sum 1/composite(n): A250133/A296358, Sum 1/n^2: A007406/A007407, Sum 1/n^3: A007408/A007409.

List([1..30],n->DenominatorRat(Sum([1..n],i->1/i))); # Muniru A Asiru, Dec 20 2018

import Data.Ratio ((%), denominator)
a002805 = denominator . sum . map (1 %) . enumFromTo 1
a002805_list = map denominator $ scanl1 (+) $ map (1 %) [1..]
-- Reinhard Zumkeller, Jul 03 2012

[Denominator(HarmonicNumber(n)): n in [1..40]]; // Vincenzo Librandi, Apr 16 2015

seq(denom(sum((2*k-1)/k, k=1..n), n=1..30); # Gary Detlefs, Jul 18 2011
f:=n->denom(add(1/k, k=1..n)); # N. J. A. Sloane, Nov 15 2013

Denominator[ Drop[ FoldList[ #1 + 1/#2 &, 0, Range[ 30 ] ], 1 ] ] (* Harvey P. Dale, Feb 09 2000 *)
Table[Denominator[HarmonicNumber[n]], {n, 1, 40}] (* Stefan Steinerberger, Apr 20 2006 *)
Denominator[Accumulate[1/Range[25]]] (* Alonso del Arte, Nov 21 2018 *)

a(n)=denominator(sum(k=2,n,1/k)) \\ Charles R Greathouse IV, Feb 11 2011

from fractions import Fraction
def a(n): return sum(Fraction(1, i) for i in range(1, n+1)).denominator
print([a(n) for n in range(1, 30)]) # Michael S. Branicky, Dec 24 2021

def harmonic(a, b): # See the F. Johansson link.
    if b - a == 1 : return 1, a
    m = (a+b)//2
    p, q = harmonic(a,m)
    r, s = harmonic(m,b)
    return p*s+q*r, q*s
def A002805(n) : H = harmonic(1,n+1); return denominator(H[0]/H[1])
[A002805(n) for n in (1..29)] # Peter Luschny, Sep 01 2012

a(n) = Denominator(Sum_{k=1..n} (2*k-1)/k). - Gary Detlefs, Jul 18 2011
a(n) = n! / gcd(Stirling1(n+1, 2), n!) = n! / gcd(A000254(n),n!). - Max Alekseyev, Mar 01 2018
a(n) = the (reduced) denominator of the continued fraction 1/(1 - 1^2/(3 - 2^2/(5 - 3^2/(7 - ... - (n-1)^2/(2*n-1))))). - Peter Bala, Feb 18 2024

Definition edited by Daniel Forgues, May 19 2010

cp's OEIS Frontend

A238166 Decimal expansion of sum_(n>=1) H(n,2)/n^4 where H(n,2) = A007406(n)/A007407(n) is the n-th harmonic number of order 2.

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A244664 Decimal expansion of Sum_{n >= 1} H(n,2)/n^2 where H(n,2) = A007406(n)/A007407(n) is the n-th harmonic number of order 2.

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A093689 Least k such that prime(n) divides A007406(k), the numerator of the k-th generalized harmonic number H(k,2) = Sum_{i=1..k} 1/i^2.

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A123751 Primes in A007406.

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A370774 Denominator of the n-th partial sum of the generalized harmonic numbers A007406/A007407.

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A093690 Primes p that divide A007406(k), the numerator of the k-th generalized harmonic number H(k,2) = Sum 1/i^2 for i=1..k, for some k < (p-1)/2.

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A119621 Wolstenholme numbers A007406 ( numerator of Sum 1/k^2, k = 1..(p-1)/2 ) divided by prime p>3.

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A013661 Decimal expansion of Pi^2/6 = zeta(2) = Sum_{m>=1} 1/m^2.

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