Gamma
The gamma function $\Gamma \colon \mathbb{C} \setminus \{0,-1,-2,\ldots\} \rightarrow \mathbb{C}$ is the function initially defined for $\mathrm{Re}(z)>0$ by the integral by the formula $$\Gamma(x)=\displaystyle\int_0^{\infty} \xi^{x-1}e^{-\xi} \mathrm{d}\xi.$$ The analytic continuation of $\Gamma$ leads to a meromorphic function with poles at the negative integers.
Domain coloring of $\Gamma$.
Plot of $\Gamma$ and $\dfrac{1}{\Gamma}$ from Abramowitz&Stegun.
Contents
Properties
Gamma(z) as integral of a power of log(1/t) for Re(z) greater than 0
Value of Gamma(1)
Factorial property of gamma
Gamma at positive integers
Proposition: The following formula holds: $$\Gamma(x)=2\displaystyle\int_0^{\infty} e^{-t^2}t^{2x-1}dt.$$
Proof: █
Proposition: The following formula holds: $$\displaystyle\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \cos^{2x-1}(\theta)\sin^{2y-1}(\theta) d\theta = \dfrac{\Gamma(x)\Gamma(y)}{2\Gamma(x+y)}.$$
Proof: █
Theorem: The following formula holds for $\mathrm{Re}(z)>0$: $$\Gamma(z)=\displaystyle\int_0^1 \log \left( \dfrac{1}{t} \right)^{z-1} dt,$$ where $\Gamma$ denotes the gamma function and $\log$ denotes the logarithm.
Proof: █
Proposition: The following formula holds: $$\Gamma(z)=\lim_{k \rightarrow \infty} \dfrac{k!k^z}{z(z+1)\ldots(z+k)}.$$
Proof: █
Gamma function Weierstrass product
Theorem
The following formula holds: $$\Gamma(s)\zeta(s,a) = \displaystyle\int_0^{\infty} \dfrac{x^{s-1}e^{-ax}}{1-e^{-x}} \mathrm{d}x,$$ where $\Gamma$ denotes the gamma function and $\zeta$ denotes the Hurwitz zeta function.
Proof
References
Proposition: $\Gamma \left( \dfrac{1}{2} \right) = \sqrt{\pi}$.
Proof: █
Corollary: $\displaystyle\int_0^{\infty} e^{-t^2} dt = \dfrac{1}{2}\sqrt{\pi}$.
Theorem (Convexity): The gamma function is logarithmically convex.
Proof: █
Theorem (Legendre Duplication Formula): $$\Gamma(2x)=\dfrac{2^{2x-1}}{\sqrt{\pi}} \Gamma(x)\Gamma \left( x +\dfrac{1}{2} \right).$$
Proof: █
Proposition: If $z=0,-1,-2,\ldots$ then $\Gamma(z)=\infty$.
Proof: █
- REDIRECT Gamma(z)Gamma(1-z)=pi/sin(pi z)
Theorem
The gamma function is the unique function $f$ such that $f(1)=1$, $f(x+1)=xf(x)$ for $x>0$, and $f$ is logarithmically convex.
Proof
References
Theorem: The following formula holds: $$\displaystyle\lim_{t \rightarrow \infty} \dfrac{\Gamma(t+\alpha)}{\Gamma(t)t^{\alpha}}=\displaystyle\lim_{t \rightarrow \infty} \dfrac{\Gamma(t)t^{\alpha}}{\Gamma(t+\alpha)}=1.$$
Proof: proof goes here █
Videos
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See Also
Loggamma
Polygamma
Reciprocal gamma
References
- 1953: Harry Bateman: Higher Transcendental Functions Volume I ... (next): §1.1 (1)
The Gamma Function by Emil Artin
The sine product formula and the gamma function
Leonhard Euler's Integral: A Historical Profile of the Gamma Function