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Classic olympiad problem · Number Theory

Prove that the sum of the reciprocals of the first n positive…

Prove that the sum of the reciprocals of the first nn positive integers, Hn=1+12++1nH_n = 1 + \tfrac12 + \cdots + \tfrac1n, is never an integer for n2n \ge 2.
Topic: Number Theory Difficulty: 4/6 Expected time: ~35 min Progressive hints on Lemma: 3

This is a proof problem — the answer is an argument, not a number. The solution is deliberately not posted here: reading a solution you didn't fight for teaches almost nothing. On Lemma you attempt it cold, take one of the 3 progressive hints only when genuinely stuck, then compare your proof against a full walkthrough and mark yourself with the same rubric a competition coordinator would use.

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