The factorial of a rational number, the gamma function not used

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the derivation and implications of a formula related to the factorial of rational numbers, specifically using the gamma function. The formula presented is \Gamma\left(\frac{m_1}{m_2}+1\right)= \frac{m_1}{m_2}\ ! for positive natural numbers m_1 and m_2 where 1. Additionally, the limit function L(q,x) is defined, which is crucial for understanding the relationship between factorials and rational inputs. The discussion also touches on the digamma function and its connection to the gamma function, providing insights into advanced mathematical concepts.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the gamma function and its properties
  • Familiarity with rational numbers and their factorial definitions
  • Knowledge of limit functions and their applications in calculus
  • Basic concepts of combinatorial mathematics, particularly binomial coefficients
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the properties of the gamma function and its applications in complex analysis
  • Explore the derivation and applications of the digamma function
  • Investigate the relationship between factorials and binomial coefficients in combinatorial contexts
  • Learn about the Weierstrass representation of the gamma function and its implications
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, researchers in number theory, and students studying advanced calculus or combinatorial mathematics will benefit from this discussion, particularly those interested in the properties of the gamma function and rational factorials.

H.B.
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My first question is: is this formula (at the bottom) a known formula?
In this subject i haven't explained how i build up the formula.
So far i think it is equal to the gamma function of Euler with

\Gamma\left(\frac{m_1}{m_2}+1\right)= \frac{m_1}{m_2}\ !

with

m_1 , m_2 \in \mathbf{N}

and

1<m_2

This gamma function however I didn't use.
The next limit i write like L(q,x) in de last formula.

L(q,x)=\prod^{\infty}_{k=0}\frac{(k+q+x) (k+1)}{(k+q)(k+1+x)}

with

q\neq

0,-1,-2,-3, …… and

x\neq

–1,-2,-3,-4, ……..

This is the formula where i use the factorial symbol ! because i think that it gives no problems with arguments with real values.

\frac{ m_1}{m_2}\ !=\left(m_1\ ! \prod^{ m_2-1}_{ i=1}L\left(1+ i\frac{ m_1}{m_2}, \frac{ m_1}{m_2}\right) \right)^\frac{1}{m_2}
 
 
with

m_1 , m_2 \in\mathbf{N}

and

1<m_2

Please feel free to react.
 
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Does it only work for positive natural numbers? Even if limited by those inputs I still like your 'q' and 'x' general form (assuming this identity is correct).
 
@mesa,
The input is a positive rational number m1/m2.
For an input of a negative rational number the relation between x! and (-x)! according to my definition (which i didn't show here) of the factorial (!) is:

x!(-x)!L(1-x,x)=1
 
You did write that (sorry, was too focused elsewhere).
 
I made a mistake in the last equation. It must be:
x!(-x)!=L(1-x,x)
This formula compares to Euler's reflection formula.
 
This is a factorial summation formula.

(x+y)!L(x+1,y)=x!y!
For example if y=0
(x+0)!L(x+1,0)=x!L(x+1,0)=x!=x!0!
If y=1
(x+1)!L(x+1,1)= (x+1)!/(x+1)=x!1!=x!
 
The next formula is about binomial coefficients.
If I use my definition of the factorial in this formula:
<br /> {x \choose y}=\frac{x\ !}{y\ !(x-y)\ !}<br />
(x, y are rational numbers) then the next equation appears :
<br /> {x \choose y}L(1+x-y,y)={x \choose y}\prod^{\infty}_{k=0}\frac{(k+x+1) (k+1)}{(k+1+x-y)(k+1+y)}={x \choose y}\prod^{\infty}_{k=1}\frac{(k+x) k}{(k+x-y)(k+y)}=1<br />
For example if y=0:
<br /> {x \choose 0}L(1+x,0)={x \choose 0}\prod^{\infty}_{k=0}\frac{(k+x+1) (k+1)}{(k+1+x)(k+1)}=1<br />
Or if x=1 and y=1/2
<br /> {1 \choose \frac{1}{2} }L(1+1-\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2})={1 \choose \frac{1}{2}}\prod^{\infty}_{k=0}\frac{(k+1+1) (k+1)}{(k+1+1-\frac{1}{2})(k+1+\frac{1}{2})}={1 \choose \frac{1}{2}}\prod^{\infty}_{k=1}\frac{(k+1) k}{(k+1-\frac{1}{2})(k+\frac{1}{2})}={1 \choose \frac{1}{2}}\prod^{\infty}_{k=1}\frac{(k+1) k}{(k+\frac{1}{2})^2}={1 \choose \frac{1}{2}}\frac {\pi}{4}=1<br />
Does this give the same results when using the 'gamma function'?
 
The remaining text (x=1 and y=1/2):

<br /> ={1 \choose \frac{1}{2} }L(1+1-\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2})={1 \choose \frac{1}{2}}\frac {\pi}{4}=1<br />
 
I think I can approach the Euler–Mascheroni constant with the next formula:

<br /> - \gamma =\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty}((\prod^{\infty}_{k=1}(\frac{(k+1)^\frac{1}{n} k^\frac{n-1}{n}}{(k+\frac{1}{n})})-1)n)<br />
 
  • #10
To complete the formula about the Euler-Mascheroni constant I'll add this one:

<br /> \gamma =<br /> \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty}<br /> ((\prod^{\infty}_{k=1}<br /> (\frac{(k+1)^\frac{-1}{n} k^\frac{n+1}{n}}{(k-\frac{1}{n})})-1)n)<br />
 
  • #11
I also think the digamma function for
<br /> x\in\mathbb{Q}<br /> can be expressed in the next formula:

<br /> \Psi(x)=-\gamma+\lim_{n\rightarrow\pm\infty}(n(1-L(x,\frac{1}{n}))<br />
 
  • #12
Of course you have already noticed that a multiplication formula can easely be derivered from the summation formula.For n \in \mathbf{N}, 1&lt;n and x \in \mathbf{Q}

<br /> (nx) ! = \frac {{x !}^n}{\prod\limits_{k=1}^{n-1}L\left(1+ kx,x\right)}<br />
 
  • #13
I think Leo Pochhammer did a good thing by changing the factorial function from a unary operation into a binary operation.

As I see it this is the definition of the rising factorial:
<br /> <br /> n, m \in \mathbf{N} \ (starting\ with\ zero),\ x \in \mathbf{C}<br /> <br /><br /> X1: \ Pochhammer(x,0)=1 \ (definition\ one)\\<br />
<br /> X2: \ Pochhammer(x,n+1)=Pochhammer(x,n)*(x+n)\ (definition\ two)<br />
My idea is to use the symbol ! as a binary operator like this:
<br /> X1: \ x!0=1\ (definition\ one)\\<br />
<br /> X2: \ x!(n+1)=x!n*(x+n)\ (definition\ two)<br />Now a theorem can be proved bij these definitions and mathematical induction.
Pochhammer(x,n+m)=Pochhammer(x,n)*Pochhammer(x+n,m)<br /> <br />This is my formula, I prefer to use x!y instead of Pochhammer(x,y):
<br /> <br /> for\ x,y \in \mathbf{Q}<br /> <br />
<br /> <br /> x!y=Pochhammer(x,y)=\frac{1!y}{L(x,y)}<br /> <br />
 
  • #14
My next formula is also about the digamma function or more precisely the derivative of the natural logarithm of the factorial function as I defined this, the input x shift by 1. I use the notation of the digamma function \Psi(x) because I think, and maybe somebody can prove this, it is the same as my formula.\Psi(x)=\lim_{h\rightarrow 0}\ln{h!^\frac{1}{h}}-\lim_{h\rightarrow 0}\ln{L(x,h)^\frac{1}{h}}=-\gamma-\lim_{h\rightarrow 0}\ln{L(x,h)^\frac{1}{h}}
 
  • #15
I Want to make a few more steps. Hopefully mathematically correct.<br /> \lim_{h\rightarrow 0}\ln{h!^\frac{1}{h}}=\lim_{h\rightarrow 0}\frac{\ln{(0+h)!}-\ln{0!}}{h}=\Psi(1)=-\gamma<br />and
<br /> \lim_{h\rightarrow 0}\ln{L(x,h)^\frac{1}{h}}=<br /> <br /> \lim_{h\rightarrow 0}\ln\prod^{\infty}_{k=0}{\left(\frac{(k+x+h) (k+1)}{(k+x)(k+1+h)}\right)^\frac{1}{h}}=\lim_{h\rightarrow 0}\sum^{\infty}_{k=0}{\ln\left(\frac{(k+x+h) (k+1)}{(k+x)(k+1+h)}\right)^\frac{1}{h}}=\lim_{h\rightarrow 0}\sum^{\infty}_{k=0}{\frac{\ln(k+x+h)-\ln(k+x)}{h}-\frac{\ln(k+1+h)-\ln(k+1)}{h}}=\sum^{\infty}_{k=0}{\lim_{h\rightarrow 0}\frac{\ln(k+x+h)-\ln(k+x)}{h}-\frac{\ln(k+1+h)-\ln(k+1)}{h}}=\sum^{\infty}_{k=0}{\frac{1}{k+x}-\frac{1}{k+1}}<br />
 
  • #16
I started with a definition of the factorial function for x is a rational number. Then I could derive a formula that gives the derivative of the natural logarithm of the factorial function (shifted by one this match with the digamma function). I think and tell me if I am wrong, it is easy to derive 'the Weierstrass representation‏ of the gamma function' by integrating this function and so on.
<br /> <br /> \Psi(x)=-\gamma +\sum^{\infty}_{k=0}{\left(\frac{1}{k+1}-\frac{1}{k+x}\right)}<br /> <br /> \Rightarrow<br /> <br />
<br /> <br /> \ln\Gamma(x)=-\gamma x+\sum^{\infty}_{k=0}{\left(\frac{x-1}{k+1}-\ln\frac{k+x}{k+1}\right)}+c<br /> <br /> \Rightarrow<br /> <br />
<br /> <br /> \Gamma(x)=e^{-\gamma x}e^{\sum\limits^{\infty}_{k=0}{\left(\frac{x-1}{k+1}-\ln\frac{k+x}{k+1}\right)}}e^c=<br /> <br />
<br /> e^{-\gamma x+c}\prod^{\infty}_{k=0}{e^{\left(\frac{x-1}{k+1}\right)}\left(\frac{k+1}{k+x}\right)}=<br /> <br />
<br /> <br /> e^{-\gamma x+c}\prod^{\infty}_{k=1}{e^{\left(\frac{x-1}{k}\right)}\left(\frac{k}{k+x-1}\right)}=<br /> <br />
According to the definition
<br /> <br /> \Gamma(1)=1\\<br /> <br /> c=\gamma\\<br /> <br /> \Gamma(x)=e^{-\gamma x+\gamma}\prod^{\infty}_{k=1}{e^{\frac{x-1}{k}}\frac{k}{k+x-1}}<br /> <br />
<br /> <br /> \Gamma(x+1)=<br /> <br /> e^{-\gamma x}\prod^{\infty}_{k=1}{e^{\frac{x}{k}}\frac{k}{k+x}}<br /> <br />
According to the definition
<br /> <br /> \Gamma(x+1)=\Gamma(x)x\\<br /> <br /> \Gamma(x)=\frac{e^{-\gamma x}}{x}\prod^{\infty}_{k=1}{e^{\frac{x}{k}}\frac{k}{k+x}}<br /> <br />
<br /> <br /> \Gamma(x)=\frac{e^{-\gamma x}}{x}\prod^{\infty}_{k=1}{e^{\frac{x}{k}}(1+\frac{x}{k})^{-1}}<br /> <br />
 
  • #17
I don't see where this is leading to - we are not a website to host a bunch of equations, especially without proof.
I closed the thread.
 

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