# Approximating Sums

Here are my solutions to the approximations of the sums $$\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{k}$$ , $$\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{k^2}$$, $$\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{\sqrt{k}}$$ and $$\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{2k-1}$$ .

I have not researched into whether there is an answer to each of these. I just tried to find them out myself and could not find a solution. Only an approximation. Any comments to refine these or directions to a solution would be appreciated.

$\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{k} \approx \ln(\frac{n+e^{1-\gamma}-2}{e^{1-\gamma}}) + \frac{n+1}{n} - \frac{1}{38n} + \frac{1}{9091n}$

Where $\gamma$ is the Euler-Macheroni constant.

$\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{k^2} \approx \frac{591}{400} + \frac{1}{2n^2} + \arccos(1-\frac{(\frac{n-2}{n}-\frac{2}{3})^2+(\frac{1}{n^2}-\frac{1}{36})^2}{8}) - 5.83\times10^{-6}$ for $n\geq 6$ and calculated in radians.

$\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{2k-1} \approx \frac{1}{2}\ln(\frac{2n+2e^{1-\gamma}-5}{2e^{1-\gamma}-1})+1 -0.00531116$

Where $\gamma$ is the Euler-Macheroni constant.

$\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{\sqrt{k}} \approx 2\sqrt{n} + \frac{1}{2\sqrt{n}} - \sqrt{2} - 0.046141$

This is a very good approximation for large $n$ but i have no idea what the constant at the end is. Can anyone help?

Note by Chris Sapiano
1 year, 7 months ago

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It would be nice to see how you derived these expressions. I can sum the infinite series but this makes me curious

- 1 year, 7 months ago