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Calculus Level 3

Find the gamma function of 5 2 \frac{5}{2} (up to 4 decimal places).


The answer is 1.3293.

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2 solutions

Chew-Seong Cheong
Jun 21, 2016

We can use gamma function Γ ( x ) \Gamma(x) to solve the problem.

Γ ( x + 1 ) = x ! ( 3 2 ) ! = Γ ( 5 2 ) As Γ ( x + 1 ) = x Γ ( x ) = 3 2 Γ ( 3 2 ) = 3 2 1 2 Γ ( 1 2 ) As Γ ( 1 2 ) = π = 3 2 1 2 π 1.3293 \begin{aligned} \Gamma (x+1) & = x! \\ \implies \left(\frac 32 \right)! & = \color{#3D99F6}{\Gamma \left(\frac 52 \right) \quad \quad \small \text{As } \Gamma (x+1) = x\Gamma (x)} \\ & = \frac 32 \Gamma \left(\frac 32 \right) \\ & = \frac 32 \cdot \frac 12 \color{#3D99F6}{\Gamma \left(\frac 12 \right) \quad \quad \small \text{As } \Gamma \left(\frac 12 \right) = \sqrt{\pi}} \\ & = \frac 32 \cdot \frac 12 \color{#3D99F6}{\sqrt{\pi}} \\ & \approx \boxed{1.3293} \end{aligned}

Vatsalya Tandon
Jun 21, 2016

Well known factorial function n ! n! is defined as n ! = 1 n! = 1 x 2 2 x 3 3 x \cdots x n n (Where n n is a natural number)

But here the given parameter 1.5 1.5 which is not a natural number but a real number. Thus, this calculation involves interpolation of the factorial function that holds good for real numbers as well. For this, here we use the gamma function Γ ( x ) \Gamma (x) which is equal to ( x 1 ) ! (x-1)! and is defined as -

Γ ( x ) = 0 e t t 1 + x d t \Gamma(x) = \int_{0}^{\infty} e^{-t} t^{-1 +x} dt

Hence Γ ( 2.5 ) \Gamma(2.5) gives us the value of 1.5 ! 1.5! which is nothing but 0 e t t 1.5 d t \int_{0}^{\infty} e^{-t} t^{1.5} dt = 1.32934 1.32934

Note: The input of Γ ( x ) \Gamma(x) should be 1 1 + the number whose factorial is to be calculated as per the definition.

How did you calculate the integral 0 e x x 1.5 d x \displaystyle \int_{0}^{\infty} e^{-x}x^{1.5}\cdot dx

Sabhrant Sachan - 4 years, 11 months ago

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I am assuming you know the value if Γ ( 1 2 ) \Gamma(\frac{1}{2}) which is equal to π \sqrt{\pi} .

After that the problem becomes very trivial as we know that,

Γ ( x ) = 0 e t t 1 + x d t \Gamma (x) = \int_{0}^{\infty} e^{-t}t^{-1+x} dt

Applying Integration by parts,

= [ t 1 x e t ] 0 + 0 ( x 1 ) e t t 2 + x d t = [-t^{1-x}e^{-t}]_0^{\infty} + \int_{0}^{\infty} (x-1)e^{-t}t^{-2+x} dt

= ( x 1 ) 0 e t t 2 + x d t = (x-1)\int_{0}^{\infty} e^{-t}t^{-2+x} dt

= ( x 1 ) Γ ( x 1 ) = (x-1)\Gamma (x-1)

Now, if we put x = 5 2 x= \frac{5}{2} ,

Γ ( 5 2 ) = 3 2 × Γ ( 3 2 ) \Gamma(\frac{5}{2}) = \frac{3}{2} \times \Gamma(\frac{3}{2})

= 3 2 × 1 2 × Γ ( 1 2 ) = \frac{3}{2} \times \frac{1}{2} \times \Gamma(\frac{1}{2})

= 3 π 4 = \boxed{\frac{3\sqrt{\pi}}{4}}

Now if you don't know that Γ ( 1 2 ) = π \Gamma (\frac{1}{2}) = \sqrt{\pi} , we can prove it by the famous Euler's reflection formula which states that,

Γ ( z ) Γ ( 1 z ) = π sin π z \Gamma(z)\Gamma(1-z) = \frac{\pi}{\sin \pi z} , where z C . z \in \mathbb{C}.

Thus, plugging in z = 1 2 z= \frac{1}{2} , we get-

Γ ( 1 2 ) 2 = [ Γ ( 1 2 ) Γ ( 1 1 2 ) ] = ( π sin π 2 ) = π \Gamma\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2} = \left[\Gamma\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\Gamma\left(1-\frac{1}{2}\right)\right] = \left(\frac{\pi}{\sin \frac{\pi}{2}}\right) = \pi

And hence, Γ ( 1 2 ) = π \Gamma(\frac{1}{2})= \sqrt{\pi}

P.S. For more information regarding Gamma Function and its forms, click here

Cheers!

Vatsalya Tandon - 4 years, 11 months ago

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Thank you 😃

Sabhrant Sachan - 4 years, 11 months ago

Use legendres duplication formula z ! ( z 1 / 2 ) ! = π 2 ( 2 z ) ( 2 z ) ! z!(z-1/2)!=√π 2^(-2z)(2z)! . P l u g z = 2 Plug z=2

Spandan Senapati - 4 years ago

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