English Title
The summation of an innumerable progression
Enestrom Number
20
Fuss Index
173
Original Language
Latin
Content Summary
This paper concerns the sum of reciprocal squares, which equals π2/6. Euler does not yet have the tools to find this value directly, but instead approximates it as 1.644934. He says this follows from E25 and E19, and also refers us forward to E736. Then Euler brings in the harmonic series: letting f(x) denote the xth partial sum of the harmonic series, he approximates it as an integral and defines his constant γ as the limit of f(x) – log(x).
Published as
Journal article
Published Date
1738
Written Date
1731
Original Source Citation
Commentarii academiae scientiarum Petropolitanae, Volume 5, pp. 91-105.
Opera Omnia Citation
Series 1, Volume 14, pp.25-41.
Record Created
2018-09-25
E020de.pdf (161 kB)
