Merits and Demerits of Harmonic Mean

Merits

The harmonic mean has the following merits.

1. It is rigidly defined.
2. It is based on all the observations of a series i.e. it cannot be calculated ignoring any item of a series.
3. It is capable of further algebraic treatment.
4. It gives better result when the ends to be achieved are the same for the different means adopted.
5. It gives the greatest weight to the smallest item of a series.
6. It can be calculated even when a series contains any negative value.
7. It makes a skewed distribution a normal one.
8. It gives a curve straighter than that of the arithmetic and geometric mean.

 Demerits

However, the harmonic mean suffers from the following demerits.

1. It is not easy to understand by a man of ordinary prudence.
2. Its calculation is cumbersome as it involves finding out of the reciprocals of the numbers.
3. It does not give better and accurate results when the means adopted are the same for the different ends achieved.
4. Its algebraic treatment is very much limited and not far and wide as that of the arithmetic mean.
5. It is greatly affected by the values of the extreme items.
6. It can not be calculated, if any, of the items is zero.