MathLabs

Problem 1

Let Tn=1+2+⋯+n=n(n+1)/2T_n=1+2+\cdots+n=n(n+1)/2 and Sn=1/T1+1/T2+⋯+1/TnS_n=1/T_1+1/T_2+\cdots+1/T_n. Prove that 1/S1+1/S2+⋯+1/S1996>10011/S_1+1/S_2+\cdots+1/S_{1996}>1001.
Step 4 of 5: Bound the harmonic sum
∑n=119961n>6\sum_{n=1}^{1996}\frac1n>6
Detailed analysis

Group terms as 11, 1/21/2, 1/3+1/41/3+1/4, 1/5+⋯+1/81/5+\cdots+1/8, and successive dyadic blocks through 10241024. Every block after the first contributes more than 1/21/2, so ∑n=119961/n>6\sum_{n=1}^{1996}1/n>6.