Help with Stirlings formula please

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter james.farrow
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Formula
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around Stirling's formula and its application in approximating factorials, specifically in the context of the expression involving 4n and 2n as n approaches infinity. Participants explore the derivation and manipulation of these expressions to find a constant lambda.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • James seeks assistance in showing that 4n is equivalent to lambda/n^1/2(16)^n as n approaches infinity, using Stirling's approximation.
  • One participant provides an approximation for 4n! and 2n! using Stirling's formula, suggesting that 4n! ~ (8*pi*n)1/2(4n/e)4n and (2n!)^2 ~ (4*pi*n)(2n/e))4n.
  • James requests clarification on the derivation of (2n!)^2 and its relevance to the problem, expressing uncertainty about its formulation.
  • A later reply clarifies that (2n!)^2 refers to the product of two factorials of 2n, which is relevant for the combination symbol used in the context of the problem.
  • James expresses gratitude for the clarification and indicates that he has understood the explanation after further consideration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants appear to agree on the application of Stirling's formula and the manipulations involved, though James initially expresses confusion about certain aspects. The discussion does not present any significant disagreements, but rather a clarification process.

Contextual Notes

James's initial algebraic manipulations and assumptions about the equivalences are not fully resolved, and the discussion does not clarify all steps involved in the derivations presented.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students or individuals interested in combinatorial mathematics, factorial approximations, and the application of Stirling's formula in theoretical contexts.

james.farrow
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
Help with Stirlings formula please!

Show that

4n is equivalent to lambda/n^1/2(16)^n as n-> infinity
2n

Now using


p is eqquivalent to p!/q!(p-q)!
q

and n = (2*pi*n)^1/2(n/e)^n

so 4n = (8*pi*n)^1/2(4n/e)^4n

and 2n = (4*pi*n)^1/2(2n/e)^2n

now try as I might I can't get it to work out - thus being able to find lambda??
perhaps my algebra is not what is used to be!

Can anyone give me some gentle prods please...

Many thanks

James
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org


4n! ~ (8*pi*n)1/2(4n/e)4n
(2n!)2 ~ (4*pi*n)(2n/e))4n


4n!/(2n!)2 ~ [(2*pi*n)-1/2]24n = [(2*pi*n)-1/2]16n
 


Hi thanks for the reply, but can you explain/expand your answer please!

I can see 4n! ~ (8*pi*n)1/2(4n/e)4n

but where does (2n!)^2 ~ (4*pi*n)(2n/e))4n come from?

This maybe a really silly question but here goes...

Why is (2n!)^2?

Many Thanks

James
 


Your question is for [4n,2n] (the combination symbol) which is 4n!/{(2n!)(2n!)}

(2n!)^2 is just (2n!)(2n!), where the second 2n is simply 4n-2n.
 


Thanks Mathman, after a bit of chewing on last night I 'got it'


Thanks for your help

James
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K