Let x denote the product of all natural numbers (excluding zero).
x = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 × 7 × …
This is a divergent product. Using zeta function regularization , find the value of x .
This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try
refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and,
finally, (c)
loading the
non-javascript version of this page
. We're sorry about the hassle.
Thank you for posting the solution, Kitran. The first step of the process is to convert the infinite product into an infinite sum, as follows:
n = 1 ∏ ∞ n = exp ( lo g n = 1 ∏ ∞ n ) = exp ( n = 1 ∑ ∞ lo g n )
Then notice that the derivative of the zeta function is given by
ζ ′ ( z ) = d z d n = 1 ∑ ∞ n − z = n = 1 ∑ ∞ d z d n − z = n = 1 ∑ ∞ − n − z lo g n = − n = 1 ∑ ∞ n − z lo g n
Hence for z = 0,
ζ ′ ( 0 ) = − n = 1 ∑ ∞ lo g n
From which it follows that
exp ( n = 1 ∑ ∞ lo g n ) = exp ( − ζ ′ ( 0 ) )
Making the connection with the Riemann zeta function explicit.
Where does 2 π come from?
How can 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5...... can be equal to 2.507??
Obviously wrong, the product of all natural numbers is -1/2. All you have to remember is that multiplication is just glorified addition.
Problem Loading...
Note Loading...
Set Loading...
Note that for the zeta function ζ ( s ) = n = 1 ∑ ∞ n − s , we have that ζ ′ ( s ) = − n = 1 ∑ ∞ n − s ln n , so that ζ ′ ( 0 ) = − n = 1 ∑ ∞ ln n = − 2 1 ln 2 π after using a known value of the zeta function derivative (gotten from the Hadamard product or Wallis formula). Then we may evaluate 1 × 2 × 3 × ⋯ = exp ( − ζ ′ ( 0 ) ) = ( 2 π ) 1 / 2 .
EDIT: More information on the Wallis formula 2 π = n = 1 ∏ ∞ ( 2 n − 1 ) ( 2 n + 1 ) ( 2 n ) 2 = 1 ⋅ 3 2 ⋅ 2 3 ⋅ 5 4 ⋅ 4 5 ⋅ 7 6 ⋅ 6 ⋯ . This product emerges when we examine the function F ( s ) = ( 1 − 2 1 − s ) ζ ( s ) = 2 1 + 2 1 n = 1 ∑ ∞ ( − 1 ) n − 1 ( n s 1 − ( n + 1 ) s 1 ) . Taking the s derivative of both sides, we have 2 1 − s ( ln 2 ) ζ ( s ) + ( 1 − 2 1 − s ) ζ ′ ( s ) = 2 1 n = 1 ∑ ∞ ( − 1 ) n [ n s ln n − ( n + 1 ) s ln ( n + 1 ) ] . Evaluating at s = 0 and using ζ ( 0 ) = − 1 / 2 , we have 2 ( ln 2 ) ( − 1 / 2 ) + ( 1 − 2 ) ζ ′ ( 0 ) = 2 1 n = 1 ∑ ∞ ( − 1 ) n [ ln n − ln ( n + 1 ) ] = 2 1 ln ( 1 ⋅ 3 2 ⋅ 2 3 ⋅ 5 4 ⋅ 4 5 ⋅ 7 6 ⋅ 6 ⋯ ) = 2 1 ln 2 π . From this we see that ζ ′ ( 0 ) = − 2 1 ln 2 π .