Monday, November 1, 2010

The Gamma Function

The gamma function of z.  In my discussion I will use G(z) to represent it.
The absolute value of the gamma function on the complex plane.
The gamma function, G(x) can be seen as a line connecting points given by the equation y = (x-1)! for integer values of x, where ! is the factorial function.  Thus, for integers, G(x) = (x-1)!.  Other important properties of the gamma function include:
G(1-x)G(x) =  pi/sin(pi x)
G(x)G(x+.5) = 2^(1-2x) pi^.5 G(2x)
G(x)G(x+1/m)G(x+2/m)..G(x+(m-1)/m) = (2pi)^((m-1)/2) m^(.5-mx) G(mx)

The derivative of the gamma function can be shown in terms of the polygamma function, P0(x), with the relationship G`(x) = G(x)P0(x).  This can be generalized into the form d^n/dx^n(G(x)) = I0,infinity(t^(x-1)e^(-t)(ln t)^n dt, where I0,infinity is the definite integral from 0 to infinity.

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