1. Sep 30, 2012 #1

   spectrum123

   

   Is it possible to find the factorial of a negative real number ? If possible, then what is its practical application ?

    

   spectrum123, Sep 30, 2012
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3. Sep 30, 2012 #2

   jedishrfu

   

   Insights Author

   Staff: Mentor

   here's some discussion on the matter:
   
   http://mathoverflow.net/questions/10124/the-factorial-of-1-2-3
   
   and
   
   http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/60851.html

    

   jedishrfu, Sep 30, 2012
4. Sep 30, 2012 #3

   D H

   

   Staff Emeritus

   Science Advisor

   Insights Author

   What about positive real numbers? Not just 1, 2, 3, ..., but also 1.5, pi, etc.
   
   The generalization of the factorial is the gamma function. For various reasons there's an offset of one: [itex]\Gamma(n) = (n-1)![/itex]. The gamma function is defined for complex numbers as well as real numbers. The only exception are non-positive real integers. The gamma function "blows up" at 0, -1, -2, etc.

    

   D H, Sep 30, 2012

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