Notation

Usually we write 𝑓(𝑥),𝑔(𝑡) etc. to denote functions.

But the gamma function has a special notation Γ(𝑛) ,
where
(i) n is the independent variable.
(ii) Γ is the capital Greek letter gamma.
Definition

ØThe gamma function may be regarded as a generalized factorial

function,
Γ 𝑛 = (𝑛 − 1)!
ØThe gamma function is defined by the improper integral
" #$ %#&
Γ 𝑛 = ∫! 𝑒 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 for all 𝑛 > 0
ØThis definition also applies when n is a complex number except
non positive integer.
Gamma Function for real number 𝑛 > 0
Gamma Function for complex number except non positive integer
Factorial and Gamma Function

Factorial Gamma Function

1.Factorial can be applied only for non 1. Gamma function can be applied for all
negative integers. complex numbers except those who have
non positive integer.
Properties

ØProperty P1:
The fundamental property of gamma function
Γ 𝑛 + 1 = 𝑛Γ 𝑛 ,
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑛 > 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑥 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟
ØProperty P2: Γ 𝑛 = 𝑛 − 1 ! 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑛
ØProperty P3: Γ 1 = 1
ØProperty P4: Γ 0 = 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑
!
ØProperty P5:Γ "
= √𝜋
Property P1: The fundamental property of gamma function is
Γ 𝑛 + 1 = 𝑛Γ(𝑛)
Proof: We know
"
Γ 𝑛 = ? 𝑒 #$ 𝑥 %#& 𝑑𝑥
!
"
∴ Γ 𝑛 + 1 = ? 𝑒 #$ 𝑥 % 𝑑𝑥
!
By integration by parts we get
#$ " "
𝑒 𝑒 #$
Γ 𝑛 + 1 = 𝑥% − ? 𝑛𝑥 %#& 𝑑𝑥
−1 ! ! −1
"
⇒ Γ 𝑛 + 1 = 0 + 𝑛 ∫! 𝑥 %#& 𝑒 #$ 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑛Γ 𝑛

∴ Γ 𝑛 − 1 = 𝑛Γ(𝑛) [proved (P1)]

Property P2: Γ 𝑛 = 𝑛 − 1 ! 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑛

Proof:We know from P1

Γ 𝑛 + 1 = 𝑛Γ(𝑛)
Similarly
Γ 𝑛 = 𝑛−1 Γ 𝑛−1
= 𝑛−1 𝑛−2 Γ 𝑛−2
= 𝑛 − 1 𝑛 − 2 𝑛 − 3 … 3.2.1
= 𝑛−1 !

[Proved (P2)]
∴Γ 𝑛 = 𝑛−1 !
Property P3: Γ 1 =1
Proof: We know
$
Γ 𝑛 = ∫# 𝑒 %& 𝑥 '%!𝑑𝑥
$ %& !%!
∴Γ 1 = ∫# 𝑒 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
$ %&
⇒Γ 1 = ∫# 𝑒 𝑑𝑥
( !" $
⇒Γ 1 = %! #
= −0 − −1 = 1

∴Γ 1 =1

[Proved (P3)]
Property P4: Γ 0 = 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑
Proof: We know
Γ 𝑛 + 1 = 𝑛Γ 𝑛
Γ(𝑛 + 1)
⇒Γ 𝑛 =
𝑛
Γ(0 + 1)
∴Γ 0 =
0
Γ(1) 1
⇒Γ 0 = = = 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑
0 0

Γ 0 = 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑
[Proved(P4)]
 &
Property P5: Γ = √𝜋
F
Proof:
Special Property P6: Γ(𝑛) = (1/𝑛) Γ(𝑛 + 1)

Proof:
We have 𝑛Γ 𝑛 = Γ 𝑛+1
⇒ Γ(𝑛) = (1/) Γ(𝑛 + 1) … … (𝑃6)

Thus Γ(𝑛) can be defined, using (𝑃6) , when n is a complex number

with negative real part (except negative integer).
Evaluating by Using property (P1)[From Q-1.-Q-3]
Evaluating by Using property (P2)[Q-4.]
Evaluating by Using property (P6) [Q-5.]
Q-1. Γ(7)
)
Q-2. Γ(")
!# ! ")
Q-3. Γ *
𝑖𝑓 Γ *
= !#
Q-4. Γ(7)
G
Q-5. Γ(− F)
Q-1.Evaluate Γ(7)
Solution: Γ 7 = Γ(6 + 1) = 6 Γ(6) [ Compare with (P1)]
= 6 Γ(5 + 1)
= 6.5. Γ(5)
= 6.5. Γ(4 + 1)
= 6.5.4 Γ(4)
= 6.5.4 Γ(3 + 1)
= 6.5.4.3 Γ(3)
= 6.5.4.3 Γ(2 + 1)
= 6.5.4.3.2. Γ(2)
= 6.5.4.3.2. Γ(1 + 1)
= 6.5.4.3.2.1.1 = 720
Answer: Γ(7) = 720
 G
Q-2 Evaluate Γ(F)
! #
Solution: Γ( ) = Γ( + 1)
" "
# #
= Γ( ) [comparing P1]
" "
# $
= Γ( + 1)
" "
# $ $
= . Γ( )
" " "
# $ %
= . Γ( + 1)
" " "
# $ % %
= . . . Γ( )
" " " "
# $ %
= . . . √𝜋
" " "
%#
= ( ) √𝜋
&

7 15
Answer: Γ( ) = ( ) √𝜋
2 8
 𝟏𝟎 𝟏 𝟐𝟕
Q-3 Evaluate 𝜞 𝟑
𝒊𝒇𝜞 𝟑
= 𝟏𝟎
Solution:
%' !
Γ = Γ + 1
$ $
! !
= Γ
$ $
! (
= Γ + 1
$ $
! .( (
= Γ
$$ $
! ( %
= . Γ + 1
$ $ $
! ( % %
= . . Γ
$ $ $ $
! ( % "!
= . . . 𝑎𝑠 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛
$ $ $ %'
%(
=
#
10 14
Answer: Γ =
3 5
Q-4.Evaluate Γ(7)
Solution:
Γ 7 = 6! (comparing P2)
= 720

Answer: Γ(7) = 720

 G
Q-4.Evaluate Γ(− )
F
Solution: Γ(𝑛) = (1/𝑛) Γ(𝑛 + 1) (Comparing P6)
' ( '
∴Γ − = − Γ − +1
( ' (
( )
= − Γ −
' (
( ( *
= − − Γ −
' ) (
( ( ( &
= − − − Γ −
' ) * (
( ( ( &
= − − − −2 Γ
' ) * (
&+
= √𝜋
&!)

7 16
Answer: Γ − = √𝜋
2 105
Evaluate the following
A-1. Γ(67)
!A
A-2. Γ( )
"
B# ! ")
A-3. Γ * 𝑖𝑓 Γ *
= !#
!
A-4. Γ(− ")
!!
A-5. Γ(− " )