Wallis Product into Stirlings Formula

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between the Wallis Product and Stirling's Formula, specifically how the approximation of the Wallis Product leads to the expression involving \(\sqrt{2\pi}\). Participants explore the mathematical steps and transformations required to connect these concepts.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about how the Wallis Product approximation leads to \(\sqrt{2\pi}\) from the given expression involving products of even and odd integers.
  • Another participant states the standard form of Stirling's Formula, suggesting a connection to the discussion but does not elaborate on its relevance.
  • A participant acknowledges their understanding of Stirling's Formula but struggles with the transition from the Wallis Product to the desired expression involving \(\sqrt{2\pi}\).
  • One participant challenges the initial claim, suggesting that the correct expression should be \(2\pi\) instead of \(\sqrt{2\pi}\), and proposes steps to manipulate the expression to clarify the denominator.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus, as there is disagreement regarding whether the result should be \(\sqrt{2\pi}\) or \(2\pi\). The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing views on the correct interpretation and steps involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific mathematical expressions and transformations without fully resolving the assumptions or steps required to connect them. The discussion highlights the complexity of the relationships between the Wallis Product and Stirling's Formula.

rbzima
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Hey all, I'm having a difficult time seeing why the approximation of the Wallis Product equals the square root of 2pi.

I know for a fact that:

[tex]\pi\approx\left(\frac{2*4*6*8*\ldots*\left(2n\right)}{1*3*5*7*\ldots*\left(2n-1\right)}\right)\frac{1}{n}[/tex]

How then does this produce:

[tex]\frac{\left(n!\right)^{2}\left(2^{2n}\right)}{\left(2n\right)!}=\sqrt{2\pi}[/tex]
 
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The standard Stirlings Formula is
[tex]\sqrt{2\pi}\approx(\frac{e}{n})^n\frac{n!}{\sqrt{n}}[/tex]
I think
 
I know, that's what I'm getting to later on in the proof, however getting through this step is a little bit of a mess to me. I already know that [tex]\sqrt{2\pi}\approx(\frac{e}{n})^n\frac{n!}{\sqrt{n }}[/tex]

I'm trying to get from [tex]\pi\approx\left(\frac{2*4*6*8*\ldots*\left(2n\righ t)}{1*3*5*7*\ldots*\left(2n-1\right)}\right)\frac{1}{n}[/tex]

to
[tex]\frac{\left(n!\right)^{2}\left(2^{2n}\right)}{\left(2n)!}[/tex] = [tex]\sqrt{2\pi}[/tex]

and I'm not sure how to do that.
 
Last edited:
You're not going to, because it should be [tex]2\pi[/tex] rather than [tex]\sqrt{2\pi}[/tex]. To do that, try:
(1) Let the expression in the numerator be E. Multiply by E/E. What's the denominator now?
(2) factor a 2 out of every term in the numerator. What does that look like now?
(3) Win!
 

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