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About the Harmonic Mean on the Unit Parabola

Article in Symmetry Culture and Science · March 2022

DOI: 10.26830/symmetry_2022_1_45

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 Symmetry: Culture and Science
Vol. 33, No. 1, 45-54, 2022
https://doi.org/10.26830/symmetry_2022_1_45

ABOUT THE HARMONIC MEAN ON THE UNIT

PARABOLA

Luděk Spíchal*

*
Czech Forestry Academy Trutnov, 9 Lesnická, Trutnov 54101, Czech Republic.
E-mail: spichal@clatrutnov.cz

Abstract: The paper deals with the construction of the harmonic mean, which is found
geometrically from the reciprocals of positive real numbers using the unit parabola

Keywords: Harmonic mean, unit parabola, golden section, Pythagorean means.

MSC 2010: 51M15, 26E60.

1 INTRODUCTION

The parabola is a simple curve that has been well known since ancient times and is still
part of the core curriculum at the secondary school level. Thus, students will encounter
the concept of the parabola both in the case of elementary functions (graph of a quadratic
function) and also in the case of analytic geometry (as one of the conics).

This article aims to join seemingly unrelated concepts such as the parabola and the
harmonic mean. In the following paragraphs, we will briefly mention and emphasize
those of the characteristics of the two concepts mentioned, which will further enable us
to describe in a comprehensible way the intention stated in the title of the paper.

The object of our interest in the case of the parabola will be the graph of the function
𝑦𝑦 = 1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 , which we denote as a unit parabola. We will use the unit parabola graph
both to find the reciprocals of the numbers and, after determining the inverse of the
harmonic mean (the arithmetic mean of the reciprocals), to construct the value of the
46 L. SPÍCHAL

harmonic mean itself. The concept of the harmonic mean also belongs to the usual high
school curriculum as one of the elementary tools of descriptive statistics. The definition
of the harmonic mean (HM) of positive numbers states that it is the ratio of the count of
these numbers (i.e., the given set of observations) and the sum of their reciprocals:

𝑛𝑛
𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = .
1
∑𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑖=1
𝑥𝑥𝑖𝑖

The above formula shows that the harmonic mean can be expressed as the reciprocal of
the arithmetic mean of the reciprocals. In the case of the harmonic mean of real numbers
𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏 > 0, the following holds:

2 2𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = = .
1 1 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏
+
𝑎𝑎 𝑏𝑏

2 SELECTED GEOMETRIC INTERPRETATIONS OF THE

HARMONIC MEAN

Many different geometric interpretations can be found in the literature, not only of the
harmonic mean. Below there are three selected interpretations (cf. Šestořádová, 2019;
Okumura, 2018).

1.1 Pythagorean means on a semi-circle

Three classical means (i.e., arithmetic, geometric and harmonic) were studied with
proportions by Greek mathematicians because of their importance in geometry and music.
The well-known variant of the geometric interpretation of Pythagorean means is obtained
by using such elementary knowledge of geometry as Thales’s theorem, Pythagorean
Theorem, and right triangle altitude theorem (Fig. 1).

The geometric interpretation of the arithmetic mean (AM) of real numbers 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏 > 0 is the
radius of the semi-circle constructed over a line segment of the length 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏, since 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 =
(𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏)/2. The geometric interpretation of the geometric mean (GM) of real numbers
𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏 > 0 follows from the use of the semi circle constructed over a line segment of the
length 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏. Since every angle constructed over the diameter of the semi-circle is right
(Thales's theorem), then the right triangle altitude theorem holds for the altitude drawn to
 ABOUT THE HARMONIC MEAN ON THE UNIT PARABOLA 47

the diameter of the circle (the hypotenuse of the right-angled triangle). The geometric
mean of 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏 is the length of the altitude drawn to the point where the segments of the
hypotenuse determined by 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏 meet, i.e., 𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 = √𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎.

Figure 1: Pythagorean means.

The geometric interpretation of the harmonic mean can be derived from the formula

𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 ∙ 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = 𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺2 ,

which shows the relationship of the harmonic mean to the other Pythagorean means. One
can see that HM is both the segment of the hypotenuse made by AM and an adjacent
segment to the leg made by GM. The figure 1 also demonstrates that 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 ≤ 𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 ≤ 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴,
with equality holding if and only if 𝑎𝑎 = 𝑏𝑏.

1.2 Similar triangles

Fig. 2 shows the geometric interpretation of the harmonic mean of the positive real
numbers a, b, where the ratios of the lengths of corresponding sides are equal, i.e.

𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 2𝑎𝑎
= ,
𝑏𝑏 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏

and after simplification:

2𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = .
𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏
48 L. SPÍCHAL

1.3 Circles and a common tangent

Let’s consider two externally touching circles of radii 𝑎𝑎 and 𝑏𝑏, respectively, with an
external common tangent. The harmonic mean of the numbers 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏 (Fig. 3) is the distance
of the point of contact of the circle from the common tangent (Okumura, 2018).

Figure 2: Similar triangles.

Figure 3: Circles and a common tangent.

 ABOUT THE HARMONIC MEAN ON THE UNIT PARABOLA 49

2 THE HARMONIC MEAN ON THE UNIT PARABOLA

In this section, we show that the harmonic mean can be constructed via the unit parabola
allowing us to find reciprocals to the selected values of the averaged numbers. The
construction of the reciprocal of the number is shown in Fig. 4 (left). One can see that if
we look for the reciprocal of a real number |𝑎𝑎| > 1, then we draw the perpendicular from
the intersection of the line segment connecting the vertex of the parabola and the image
of the number 𝑎𝑎 with the unit parabola. The reciprocal of 𝑎𝑎 is the intersection of the
perpendicular and the 𝑥𝑥-axis. For |𝑎𝑎| < 1 the construction procedure goes in the reverse
order.

Figure 4: Construction of the reciprocal on the unit parabola.

The proof of the construction is based on the situation shown in Figure 4 (right) (Spíchal,
2021). If the point 𝐴𝐴 with the coordinates [𝑡𝑡, 0] is the intersection of a ray 𝑞𝑞 and 𝑥𝑥-axis
then the ray 𝑞𝑞 has the following equation:

𝑥𝑥
𝑦𝑦 = 1 − .
𝑡𝑡

An 𝑥𝑥-coordinate of the point 𝑃𝑃 where the ray 𝑞𝑞 cuts the parabola we get by comparison
their equation:

𝑥𝑥
1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 = 1 − ,
𝑡𝑡

from which after simplifying follows:

1
𝑥𝑥1 = 0, 𝑥𝑥2 = .
𝑡𝑡
50 L. SPÍCHAL

Moreover, it is obvious that there is unique angle 𝛼𝛼 ∈ (0, 𝜋𝜋/2) ∪ (𝜋𝜋/2, 𝜋𝜋) made by a ray
𝑝𝑝 with 𝑥𝑥-axis for all points on 𝑥𝑥-axis which have the reciprocal. If we choose 𝛼𝛼 = 45°
then 𝑝𝑝: 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥, and from the equation 1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 = 𝑥𝑥 follows:

−1 ± √5
𝑥𝑥1,2 = ,
2

where the value 𝑥𝑥 = (−1 + √5)/2 is the reciprocal (𝜑𝜑−1 ) to the so-called golden section
(Olsen, 2013):

1 + √5
𝜑𝜑 = .
2

Fig. 5 shows the construction of the harmonic mean, where the reciprocals of 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏 were
constructed through the same process as mentioned above. Obviously, after determining
the inverse of the harmonic mean (1/HM, the midpoint of the line segment given by
reciprocals), we reuse the construction of the reciprocal to get the harmonic mean.

Figure 5: Construction of the harmonic mean on the unit parabola.

 ABOUT THE HARMONIC MEAN ON THE UNIT PARABOLA 51

3 REVISED PYTHAGOREAN MEANS AND ARCHIMEDES'

RECURRENCE FORMULA

In this section, we show two constructions of the classical means based on the unit
parabola.

3.1 Revised Pythagorean means

According to the construction of the harmonic mean mentioned above, we can show the
relationship between the classical Pythagorean means in an alternate way. As in Fig. 6
shown, due to the right triangle altitude theorem one can find the value of the geometric
mean on the 𝑦𝑦-axis, if the arithmetic and harmonic mean form the diameter of the semi-
circle with the centre on the 𝑥𝑥-axis.

3.2 Archimedes’ recurrence formula

Archimedes obtained the first rigorous approximation of 𝜋𝜋 by inscribing and

circumscribing 𝑛𝑛-gons on a circle. This approximation is based on successive application
(usually called the Archimedean algorithm) of Archimedes’ recurrence formula (Miel,
1983):

2𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛
𝑎𝑎2𝑛𝑛 = ,
𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 + 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛

𝑏𝑏2𝑛𝑛 = �𝑎𝑎2𝑛𝑛 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 ,

where 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 and 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 are the perimeters of the circumscribed and inscribed 𝑛𝑛-gon and 𝑎𝑎2𝑛𝑛 and
𝑏𝑏2𝑛𝑛 the perimeters of the circumscribed and inscribed 2𝑛𝑛-gon. The first equation in the
above formula can be understood as the harmonic mean of 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 and 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 while the second
one is the geometric mean of 𝑎𝑎2𝑛𝑛 and 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 (Fig. 7). Finally, we can add that starting with
number 6 (hexagon) as the value for both 𝑛𝑛 and 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 and 4√3 as the value for 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 and
subsequently applying the above recurrence formula several times, Archimedes computed
a value for 𝜋𝜋 for four decimal positions (Vincent, 2007).
52 L. SPÍCHAL

Figure 6: Revised Pythagorean means.

Figure 7: Archimedes’ recurrence formula (initial values 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 1, 𝑏𝑏𝑛𝑛 = 2/√3).

4 CONCLUSION

Our mind tends to look for symmetry all around us. This symmetry might be perfect or
almost perfect as the objects around are more or less symmetric (Gielis, 2013). The idea
goes deeply in history, at least to ancient Greeks, who looked for harmony and symmetry
 ABOUT THE HARMONIC MEAN ON THE UNIT PARABOLA 53

in music, numbers etc. It remains important because looking for symmetry is a way that
allows us to compare the shapes of objects we meet or have met before (Gielis, 2017).

One of the most often types of symmetry is bilateral symmetry (e.g. human faces,
butterfly wings etc.). The construction of the reciprocals used in the article might be taken
as an example of symmetry because on one side, the unit parabola is axially symmetric,
and on the other, at least one point (the intersect of the unit parabola and the x-axis)
remains at the same place (Gielis, 2013).

It is well known that parabola belongs to the family of curves called conics. It can also be
shown that both the unit circle (the curve given by the equation 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 = 1) and the unit
hyperbola (the curve given by the equation 𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑦𝑦 2 = 1) allow such constructions to be
performed.

The conics in general and the so-called Pythagorean means (arithmetic, geometric and
harmonic) have much more in common than one could say at first sight. Like the conics,
means were in the focus of attention of ancient Greeks. The geometric and arithmetic
mean are related to the problem of transforming a rectangle into a square with an equal
area and a square with the same circumference, respectively. At the same time, these
transformations are also the basis of conic sections. The Greek mathematicians defined
Pythagorean means as the ratios and differences for three positive numbers 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏 and 𝑐𝑐. If
𝑎𝑎 > 𝑏𝑏 > 𝑐𝑐, Greeks derived different means from the ratio (𝑎𝑎 − 𝑏𝑏)/(𝑏𝑏 − 𝑐𝑐), which
compared with 𝑎𝑎/𝑎𝑎 = 𝑏𝑏/𝑏𝑏 = 𝑐𝑐/𝑐𝑐 (arithmetic mean), 𝑎𝑎/𝑏𝑏 = 𝑏𝑏/𝑐𝑐 (geometric mean), and
𝑎𝑎/𝑐𝑐 (harmonic mean). All of these means and their reciprocals can be arranged in a table
that shows symmetry along the diagonal (cf. Gielis, 2017, pp. 23–24).

REFERENCES

Gielis, J. (2003) Inventing the Circle: The Geometry of Nature, Antwerp: Geniaal Publishers.
Gielis, J. (2017) The Geometrical Beauty of Plants, Paris: Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-
6239-151-2
Miel, G. (1983) Of calculations past and present: The Archimedean algorithm, The American Mathematical
Monthly, 90, 1, 17–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029890.1983.11971147
Olsen, S.A. (2013) The golden section’s pivotal role in modern science, Symmetry: Culture and Science, 24,
1, 257–274.
Okumura, H. and Saitoh, S. (2018) Harmonic mean and division by zero, Forum Geometricorum, 18, 155–
159.
 54 L. SPÍCHAL

Spíchal, L. (2021) Jednotková parabola, zlatý řez a parabolické π, [in Czech], Rozhledy matematicko-fyzikální,
96, 1, 8–17.
Šestořádová, A. (2019) Geometrická interpretace průměrů v programu GeoGebra, [Master’s Thesis in Czech
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