Gamma
The gamma function is the function defined by the integral (initially for positive values of $x$) by the formula $$\Gamma(x)=\displaystyle\int_0^{\infty} \xi^{x-1}e^{-\xi} d\xi.$$ The analytic continuation of $\Gamma$ leads to a meromorphic function with poles at the negative integers.
- Gamma.png
Graph of $\Gamma$ on $[-7,7] \subset \mathbb{R}$.
- Complex gamma.jpg
Domain coloring of analytic continuation of $\Gamma$.
$ (1948).
Plot of $\Gamma$ and $\dfrac{1}{\Gamma}$ from Abramowitz&Stegun.
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Contents
Alternate definitions
Theorem: The following formula holds: $$\Gamma(z)=\displaystyle\int_0^1 \log \left( \dfrac{1}{t} \right)^{z-1} dt,$$ where $\Gamma$ denotes the gamma function and $\log$ denotes the logarithm.
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Proposition: The following formula holds: $$\Gamma(z)=\lim_{k \rightarrow \infty} \dfrac{k!k^z}{z(z+1)\ldots(z+k)}.$$
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Gamma function Weierstrass product
Properties
Proposition: $\Gamma(1)=1$
Proof: Compute directly $$\begin{array}{ll} \Gamma(1) &= \displaystyle\int_0^{\infty} \xi^{1-1} e^{-\xi} d\xi \\ &= \displaystyle\int_0^{\infty} e^{-\xi} d\xi \\ &= \left[ -e^{-\xi} \right]_{0}^{\infty} \\ &= 1.█ \end{array}$$
Theorem: $\Gamma(x+1)=x\Gamma(x); x>0$
Proof: Use integration by parts to compute $$\begin{array}{ll} \Gamma(x+1) &= \displaystyle\int_0^{\infty} \xi^x e^{-\xi} d\xi \\ &= -\xi^x e^{-\xi}|_0^{\infty} \displaystyle\int_0^{\infty} x \xi^{x-1} e^{-\xi} d\xi \\ &= x\Gamma(x).█ \end{array}$$
Corollary: If $x \in \mathbb{N}$, then $\Gamma(x+1)=x!$, where $x!$ denotes the factorial.
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: $$\Gamma(s)\zeta(s,a) = \displaystyle\int_0^{\infty} \dfrac{x^{s-1}e^{-ax}}{1-e^{-x}} \mathrm{d}x,$$ where $\Gamma$ denotes the gamma function and $\zeta$ denotes the Hurwitz zeta function.
Proof
References
Proposition: $\Gamma \left( \dfrac{1}{2} \right) = \sqrt{\pi}$.
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Corollary: $\displaystyle\int_0^{\infty} e^{-t^2} dt = \dfrac{1}{2}\sqrt{\pi}$.
Theorem (Convexity): The gamma function is logarithmically convex.
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Theorem (Legendre Duplication Formula): $$\Gamma(2x)=\dfrac{2^{2x-1}}{\sqrt{\pi}} \Gamma(x)\Gamma \left( x +\dfrac{1}{2} \right).$$
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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 █
See Also
Videos
Gamma Function (playlist)
The Gamma Function: intro (5)
Gamma Integral Function - Introduction
Gamma function
Mod-04 Lec-09 Analytic continuation and the gamma function (Part I)
gamma function - Part 1
Beta Function, Gamma Function and their Properties
What's the Gamma Function?
euler gamma function
Thermodynamics 19 a : Gamma Function 1/2
The Gamma Function: why 0!=1 (5)
Gamma Function Of One-Half: Part 1
Gamma Function Of One-Half: Part 2
Gamma function at 1/2
Contour Integral Definition of the Gamma Function
References
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
