# Need Help with Gamma Functions

1. May 20, 2008

### mjk1

I'am not sure how to solve this gamma function $$\Gamma$$(5/4). any help ?

sorry if this is in the wrong section.

2. May 20, 2008

### mathman

The Gamma function is the generalization of factoral. The simplest representation is an integral:

Gamma(x)=int(0,oo)tx-1e-tdt, for x>0.

It can be extended by analytic continuation.

3. May 20, 2008

### mjk1

yeah the original integral was $$\int$$[0,4]Y$$^{3/2}$$(16-Y$$^{2}$$)$$^{1/2}$$ dy

which i simplified to

64$$\int$$(0,1) t$$^{(5/4)-1}$$(1-t)$$^{(3/2)-1}$$ dt

using Gamma(x)=int(0,oo)tx-1e-tdt, =>> $$\beta$$(5/4, 3/2)

hence i am trying to solve $$\beta$$(5/4, 3/2)
= $$\Gamma$$(5/4)$$\Gamma$$(3/2) / $$\Gamma$$((5/2)+(3/2))

i am trying to solve this to get an answer in terms of a number.

i dont know how to solve $$\Gamma$$(5/4)

Last edited: May 20, 2008
4. May 20, 2008

### Santa1

$$\Gamma\left(\frac{5}{4}\right) = \Gamma\left(1+\frac{1}{4}\right) = \frac{1}{4}\Gamma\left(\frac{1}{4}\right)$$

$$\Gamma\left(\frac{1}{4}\right)$$ has no known basic expression, but is known to be transcendental.

5. May 20, 2008

### mjk1

6. May 20, 2008

### robert Ihnot

I read that (1/q)! has no representation for integer q>2, except decimal form. But, if you are concerned with gamma(1/4), you can see it to 1,000,000 decimals at:

http://www.dd.chalmers.se/~frejohl/math/gamma14_1_000_000.txt

Working with Euler's reflection formula, I get

(1/4)!(3/4)! = $$\frac{3\pi\sqrt2}{16}=.833041$$

Last edited by a moderator: Apr 23, 2017
7. May 20, 2008

### mjk1

how about $$\Gamma$$(0) I read somewhere that its a complex infinity but dont understand what that means

8. May 20, 2008

### robert Ihnot

Well, when you have a form like$$\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{e^-x}{x} dx$$, you have trouble.
$$\Gamma(Z)\Gamma(1-Z) = \frac{\pi}{sin\pi(x)} for Z=0.$$