Numbers Finder Using Harmonic and Arithmetic Means

Input the harmonic mean and arithmetic mean of two numbers to easily find their exact values.

Calculate Two Numbers From Harmonic and Arithmetic Means

Result

How to Calculate Numbers Using Harmonic and Arithmetic Means

Let the two numbers be \(x\) and \(y\), with their harmonic mean (\(H\)) and arithmetic mean (\(A\)) provided.

Definitions of Harmonic and Arithmetic Means

Harmonic Mean (H): The reciprocal of the average of the reciprocals of two numbers: \( H = \frac{2xy}{x + y} \)

Arithmetic Mean (A): The average of two numbers: \( A = \frac{x + y}{2} \)

Deriving the Formula

Calculate the Sum (\(x + y\)) from the arithmetic mean: \( x + y = 2A \) Calculate the Product (\(xy\)) from the harmonic mean: \( \frac{2xy}{x + y} = H \) \( \frac{2xy}{2A} = H \) Simplify: \( xy = H \cdot A \) Use the sum and product to construct the quadratic equation: \( t^2 - (x + y)t + xy = 0 \) Substitute the values of \(x + y\) and \(xy\): \( t^2 - 2At + H \cdot A = 0 \) Using the quadratic formula to solve the quadratic equation: \( t = \frac{2A \pm \sqrt{(2A)^2 - 4 \cdot H \cdot A}}{2} \) Simplify: \( t = A \pm \sqrt{A^2 - H \cdot A} \) The two solutions, \(t = x\) and \(t = y\), provide the values of the numbers.

Examples

Example 1: The harmonic mean of two numbers is 6.4 and their arithmetic mean is 10, find the two number.

Solution:

1. Calculate the Sum \( x + y \):

\( x + y = 2 \cdot 10 = 20 \)

2. Calculate the Product \( x \cdot y \):

\( xy = 6.4 \cdot 10 = 64 \)

3. Form the Quadratic Equation:

\( t^2 - 20t + 64 = 0 \)

4. Solve the Equation:

\( t = \frac{20 \pm \sqrt{20^2 - 4 \cdot 64}}{2} = \frac{20 \pm \sqrt{400 - 256}}{2} = \frac{20 \pm \sqrt{144}}{2} \)

\( t_1 = \frac{20 + \sqrt{144}}{2} = 16 \)

\( t_2 = \frac{20 - \sqrt{144}}{2} = 4 \)

Result: The two numbers are 16 and 4.

Example 2: The harmonic mean of two numbers is 3.75 and their arithmetic mean is 4, find the two number.

Solution:

1. Calculate the Sum \( x + y \):

\( x + y = 2 \cdot 4 = 8 \)

2. Calculate the Product \( x \cdot y \):

\( xy = 3.75 \cdot 4 = 15 \)

3. Form the Quadratic Equation:

\( t^2 - 8t + 15 = 0 \)

4. Solve the Equation:

\( t = \frac{8 \pm \sqrt{8^2 - 4 \cdot 15}}{2} = \frac{8 \pm \sqrt{64 - 60}}{2} = \frac{8 \pm \sqrt{4}}{2} \)

\( t_1 = \frac{8 + \sqrt{4}}{2} = 5 \)

\( t_2 = \frac{8 - \sqrt{4}}{2} = 3 \)

Result: The two numbers are 5 and 3.