Definition:Gamma Function

Standard Definition
The Gamma function $\Gamma: \C \to \C \ $ is defined, for the open right half-plane, as:
 * $\displaystyle \Gamma \left({z}\right) = \int_0^{\to \infty} t^{z-1} e^{-t} \ \mathrm d t$

and for all other values of $z$ except the non-positive integers as:
 * $\Gamma \left({z + 1}\right) = z \Gamma \left({z}\right)$

Other equivalent definitions exist, as follows.

Weierstrass Form
Of note is the Weierstrass form:
 * $\displaystyle \frac 1 {\Gamma \left({z}\right)} = z e^{\gamma z} \prod_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty \left({\left({ 1 + \frac z n}\right) e^{\frac {-z} n}}\right)$

where $\gamma$ is the Euler-Mascheroni constant.

The Weierstrass expression is valid for all $\C$.

Euler Form
Another important form of the Gamma function is the Euler form:
 * $\displaystyle \Gamma \left({z}\right) = \frac 1 z \prod_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty \left({ \left({1 + \frac 1 n}\right)^z \left({1 + \frac z n}\right)^{-1}}\right) = \lim_{m \to \infty} \frac {m^z m!} {z \left({z+1}\right) \left({z+2}\right) \ldots \left({z+m}\right)}$

which is valid except for $z \in \left\{{0, -1, -2, \ldots}\right\}$.

Extension of Factorial
The Gamma function can be seen to be an extension to the complex plane of the factorial:
 * $n! = \Gamma \left({n+1}\right) = n \Gamma \left({n}\right)$

Hence we have:
 * $\displaystyle n! = \lim_{m \to \infty} \frac {m^n m!} {\left({n+1}\right) \left({n+2}\right) \ldots \left({n+m}\right)}$

Also known as
Various authors call this function Euler's Gamma function, after Leonhard Paul Euler.

Also see

 * Equivalence of Gamma Function Definitions


 * Zeroes of Gamma Function
 * Poles of Gamma Function
 * Gamma Difference Equation

Historical Note
The symbol $\Gamma \left({x}\right)$ was introduced by Adrien-Marie Legendre.