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Difference between revisions of "Factorial"

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The function defined on the set of non-negative integers with value at <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/f/f038/f038080/f0380801.png" /> equal to the product of the natural numbers from 1 to <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/f/f038/f038080/f0380802.png" />, that is, to <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/f/f038/f038080/f0380803.png" />; it is denoted by <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/f/f038/f038080/f0380804.png" /> (by definition, <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/f/f038/f038080/f0380805.png" />). For large <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/f/f038/f038080/f0380806.png" /> an approximate expression for the factorial is given by the [[Stirling formula|Stirling formula]]. The factorial is equal to the number of permutations of <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/f/f038/f038080/f0380807.png" /> elements. The more general expression
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The function defined on the set of non-negative integers with value at $n$ equal to the product of the natural numbers from 1 to $n$, that is, to $1\cdot2\cdot\ldots\cdot n$; it is denoted by $n!$ (by definition, $0!=1$). For large $n$ an approximate expression for the factorial is given by the [[Stirling formula|Stirling formula]]. The factorial is equal to the number of permutations of $n$ elements. The more general expression
  
<table class="eq" style="width:100%;"> <tr><td valign="top" style="width:94%;text-align:center;"><img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/f/f038/f038080/f0380808.png" /></td> </tr></table>
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$$(a)_\mu=a(a+1)\dotsm(a+\mu-1) \ ,$$
  
is also called a factorial, where <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/f/f038/f038080/f0380809.png" /> is a complex number, <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/f/f038/f038080/f03808010.png" /> is a natural number, and <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/f/f038/f038080/f03808011.png" />. See also [[Gamma-function|Gamma-function]].
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is also called a factorial, where $a$ is a complex number, $\mu$ is a natural number, and $(a)_0=1$. See also [[Gamma-function|Gamma-function]].
  
  
  
 
====Comments====
 
====Comments====
Because <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/f/f038/f038080/f03808012.png" /> equals the number of permutations of <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/f/f038/f038080/f03808013.png" /> elements, the factorial is extensively used in combinatorics, probability theory, mathematical statistics, etc. Cf. [[Combinatorial analysis|Combinatorial analysis]]; [[Combination|Combination]]; [[Binomial coefficients|Binomial coefficients]].
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Because $n!$ equals the number of permutations of $n$ elements, the factorial is extensively used in combinatorics, probability theory, mathematical statistics, etc. Cf. [[Combinatorial analysis|Combinatorial analysis]]; [[Combination]]; [[Binomial coefficients]].
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The ''Pochhammer symbol'' $(a)_\mu$ denotes the ''rising factorial'', also denoted $(a)^{\overline{\mu}}$.  Analogously, one defines the ''falling factorial''
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$$
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(a)^{\underline{\mu}} = a(a-1)\dotsm(a-\mu+1) \ .
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$$

Latest revision as of 13:41, 14 February 2020

The function defined on the set of non-negative integers with value at $n$ equal to the product of the natural numbers from 1 to $n$, that is, to $1\cdot2\cdot\ldots\cdot n$; it is denoted by $n!$ (by definition, $0!=1$). For large $n$ an approximate expression for the factorial is given by the Stirling formula. The factorial is equal to the number of permutations of $n$ elements. The more general expression

$$(a)_\mu=a(a+1)\dotsm(a+\mu-1) \ ,$$

is also called a factorial, where $a$ is a complex number, $\mu$ is a natural number, and $(a)_0=1$. See also Gamma-function.


Comments

Because $n!$ equals the number of permutations of $n$ elements, the factorial is extensively used in combinatorics, probability theory, mathematical statistics, etc. Cf. Combinatorial analysis; Combination; Binomial coefficients.

The Pochhammer symbol $(a)_\mu$ denotes the rising factorial, also denoted $(a)^{\overline{\mu}}$. Analogously, one defines the falling factorial $$ (a)^{\underline{\mu}} = a(a-1)\dotsm(a-\mu+1) \ . $$

How to Cite This Entry:
Factorial. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Factorial&oldid=18764
This article was adapted from an original article by BSE-3 (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article