General Formula for the Reciprocal of a Sum of Reciprocals

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on deriving a general formula for the reciprocal of a sum of reciprocals, specifically expressed as \frac{1}{\frac{1}{x_1} + \frac{1}{x_2} + ... + \frac{1}{x_n}}. The simplified expression is confirmed to be \left( \frac{1}{x_1} + \frac{1}{x_2} + ... \right)^{-1} = \frac{\prod_1 x_i}{\sum_i \prod_{j \neq i} x_j}. This formula provides a systematic approach to calculate the reciprocal of multiple variables' reciprocals, enhancing mathematical efficiency in various applications.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic algebraic operations
  • Familiarity with the concept of reciprocals
  • Knowledge of product and summation notation
  • Basic grasp of mathematical expressions and simplifications
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore applications of the reciprocal of sums in physics, particularly in reduced mass calculations
  • Study advanced algebraic techniques for simplifying complex expressions
  • Learn about the implications of reciprocal relationships in statistical mechanics
  • Investigate the use of this formula in engineering calculations involving multiple components
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Mathematicians, physicists, engineers, and students seeking to enhance their understanding of reciprocal relationships and their applications in various scientific fields.

FredericChopin
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I know that the reduced mass, μ, of an object is:

\mu = \frac{1}{\frac{1}{m_1} + \frac{1}{m_2}}

\mu = \frac{m_1 m_2}{ m_1 + m_2 }

But is there a general formula (or a simplified expression) for finding the value of:

\frac{1}{ \frac{1}{x_1} + \frac{1}{x_2} + ... + \frac{1}{x_n} } ?

Thank you.
 
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This is the same as solving:
\dfrac{1}{x1}+\dfrac{1}{x2}+\dfrac{1}{x3}+... = \dfrac{A}{B}

\left( \dfrac{1}{x1}+\dfrac{1}{x2}+\dfrac{1}{x3}+... \right)^{-1}= \dfrac{\prod_1 x_i}{\sum_i \prod_{j\neq i} x_j}
 
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matteo137 said:
This is the same as solving:
\dfrac{1}{x1}+\dfrac{1}{x2}+\dfrac{1}{x3}+... = \dfrac{A}{B}

\left( \dfrac{1}{x1}+\dfrac{1}{x2}+\dfrac{1}{x3}+... \right)^{-1}= \dfrac{\prod_1 x_i}{\sum_i \prod_{j\neq i} x_j}

Great! Thank you so much!
 

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