Scribd
Upload
23 views2 pages

Definition and Properties of The Gamma Function

notes

Uploaded by

Kaustubh Deshmukh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
23 views2 pages

Definition and Properties of The Gamma Function

notes

Uploaded by

Kaustubh Deshmukh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

14.

2: Definition and properties of the Gamma function


 Definition: Gamma Function

The Gamma function is defined by the integral formula


∞
z−1 −t
Γ(z) = ∫ t e dt
0

The integral converges absolutely for Re(z) > 0 .

 Properties
1. Γ(z) is defined and analytic in the region Re(z) > 0 .
2. Γ(n + 1) = n! , for integer n ≥ 0 .
3. Γ(z + 1) = zΓ(z) (function equation)
This property and Property 2 characterize the factorial function. Thus, Γ(z) generalizes n! to complex numbers z . Some
authors will write Γ(z + 1) = z! .
4. Γ(z) can be analytically continued to be meromorphic on the entire plane with simple poles at 0, −1, −2 .... The residues are
m
(−1)
Res(Γ, −m) =
m!

z
5. Γ(z) = [ze γz ∞
∏
1
(1 + )e
−z/n −1
] , where γ is Euler's constant
n

1 1 1
γ = lim 1 + + +⋅ ⋅ ⋅ − log(n) ≈ 0.577
n→∞ 2 3 n

This property uses an infinite product. Unfortunately we won’t have time, but infinite products represent an entire topic on
their own. Note that the infinite product makes the positions of the poles of Γ clear.
π
6. Γ(z)Γ(1 − z) =
sin(πz)

With Property 5 this gives a product formula for sin(πz).


−−
7. Γ(z + 1) ≈ √2πz z+1/2
e for |z| large, Re(z) > 0 .
−z

−−
In particular, n! ≈ √2πn e . (Stirling's formula)
n+1/2 −n

−
8. 2
2z−1
Γ(z)Γ(z + 1/2) = √π Γ(2z) (Legendre duplication formula)

 Note
These are just some of the many properties of Γ(z) . As is often the case, we could have chosen to define Γ(z) in terms of some
of its properties and derived Equation 14.3.1 as a theorem.

We will prove (some of) these properties below.

 Example 14.2.1
Use the properties of Γ to show that Γ(1/2) = √− −
π and Γ(3/2) = √π /2.

Solution
From Property 2 we have Γ(1) = 0! = 1 . The Legendre duplication formula with z = 1/2 then shows
1 − 1 −
0
2 Γ( ) Γ(1) = √π Γ(1) ⇒ Γ ( ) = √π .
2 2

14.2.1 https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6558
Now, using the functional equation Property 3 we get
−
3 1 1 1 √π
Γ( ) = Γ( + 1) = Γ( ) = .
2 2 2 2 2

This page titled 14.2: Definition and properties of the Gamma function is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed,
and/or curated by Jeremy Orloff (MIT OpenCourseWare) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform;
a detailed edit history is available upon request.

14.2.2 https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/6558

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy