MATH 214 (R1) Winter 2008

Intermediate Calculus I

The Euler Mascheroni Constant

Monday January 28, 2008

Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

University of Alberta

The Harmonic numbers h1 , h2 , h3 , . . . , hn , . . . are defined by

h1 = 1
1
h2 = 1 +
2
1 1
h3 = 1 + +
2 3
..
.
1 1 1
hn = 1 + + + · · · +
2 3 n

for n ≥ 1.

In this note we will show that if an = hn − log(n + 1) for n ≥ 1, then

lim an = γ
n→∞

exists and 0 < γ < 1.

1
Proof. Examining the area under the graph of y = , 1 ≤ x ≤ n + 1,
x
y = 1/x
y

0 1 2 3 n-1 n n+1 x

we see that
n+1
1 1 1 1
Z
1+ + +···+ > dx = log(n + 1),
2 3 n 1 x
that is, an = hn − log(n + 1) > 0 for all n ≥ 1.
Now, since log(1 + x) < x for all x > −1, we have
1
an+1 − an = − log(n + 2) + log(n + 1)
n+1
 
1 n+2
= − log
n+1 n+1
 
1 1
= − log 1 +
n+1 n+1

> 0,

that is,  
1 1
an+1 − an = − log 1 + >0
n+1 n+1
and the sequence {an }n≥1 is strictly increasing.

Also, since the area of the k th shaded “triangle”, is less than

1 1
− ,
k k+1
for k ≥ 1, we have
       
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
an < 1− + − + − +··· + − ,
2 2 3 3 4 n n+1
1
that is 0 < an < 1 − .
n+1

Therefore, the sequence {an }n≥1 is strictly increasing and bounded above, and hence converges, so the limit

γ = lim an
n→∞

exists and 0 < γ < 1.

Note: γ is called the Euler-Mascheroni Constant and

γ = 0.5772156649 · · ·

It is not known if γ is rational or irrational.

We can use the result above to show that

∞
X (−1)n−1
= log 2,
n=1
n

that is, the sum of the alternating series is the natural logarithm of 2.
Consider the sequence {s2n }n≥1 , defined by

s2n = h2n − hn

for n ≥ 1. We have
s2n = h2n − hn = h2n − log(2n) − (hn − log(2n)) ,
that is,
s2n = h2n − log(2n) − (hn − log n) + log 2,
and letting n → ∞, we have

lim s2n = lim (h2n − log(2n)) − lim (hn − log n) + log 2 = γ − γ + log 2,
n→∞ n→∞ n→∞

so that
lim s2n = log 2.
n→∞

However,

s2n = h2n − hn
1
= h2n − 2 · hn
2
 
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= 1+ + + +··· + −2 + + +···+
2 3 4 2n 2 4 6 2n
1 1 1 1 1
=1− + − +··· + − ,
2 3 4 2n − 1 2n
that is,
2n
X (−1)k−1
s2n = ,
k
k=1

the nth partial sum of the alternating harmonic series.

Therefore
∞
X (−1)n−1
= lim s2n = log 2.
n=1
n n→∞