Factorials about decimals

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How do you get the factorial of a decimal number using a pen and paper if it is possible?



Example: Find the factorial of $0.5!$







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  • What do you call the factorial of a decimal number ? Do you refer to the $Gamma$ function ? If yes you have to calculate the integral defined by $Gamma$.
    – tmaths
    Aug 20 at 11:24










  • A quick google search of "factorial real number" lead to this question. So I think it's a duplicate
    – F.Carette
    Aug 20 at 11:28










  • The other question asks for the definition; this question asks for methods of calculating numeric values with pen and paper.
    – MJD
    Aug 20 at 11:46














up vote
1
down vote

favorite












How do you get the factorial of a decimal number using a pen and paper if it is possible?



Example: Find the factorial of $0.5!$







share|cite|improve this question






















  • What do you call the factorial of a decimal number ? Do you refer to the $Gamma$ function ? If yes you have to calculate the integral defined by $Gamma$.
    – tmaths
    Aug 20 at 11:24










  • A quick google search of "factorial real number" lead to this question. So I think it's a duplicate
    – F.Carette
    Aug 20 at 11:28










  • The other question asks for the definition; this question asks for methods of calculating numeric values with pen and paper.
    – MJD
    Aug 20 at 11:46












up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











How do you get the factorial of a decimal number using a pen and paper if it is possible?



Example: Find the factorial of $0.5!$







share|cite|improve this question














How do you get the factorial of a decimal number using a pen and paper if it is possible?



Example: Find the factorial of $0.5!$









share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Aug 20 at 11:24









drhab

87.8k541119




87.8k541119










asked Aug 20 at 11:21









MMJM

225




225











  • What do you call the factorial of a decimal number ? Do you refer to the $Gamma$ function ? If yes you have to calculate the integral defined by $Gamma$.
    – tmaths
    Aug 20 at 11:24










  • A quick google search of "factorial real number" lead to this question. So I think it's a duplicate
    – F.Carette
    Aug 20 at 11:28










  • The other question asks for the definition; this question asks for methods of calculating numeric values with pen and paper.
    – MJD
    Aug 20 at 11:46
















  • What do you call the factorial of a decimal number ? Do you refer to the $Gamma$ function ? If yes you have to calculate the integral defined by $Gamma$.
    – tmaths
    Aug 20 at 11:24










  • A quick google search of "factorial real number" lead to this question. So I think it's a duplicate
    – F.Carette
    Aug 20 at 11:28










  • The other question asks for the definition; this question asks for methods of calculating numeric values with pen and paper.
    – MJD
    Aug 20 at 11:46















What do you call the factorial of a decimal number ? Do you refer to the $Gamma$ function ? If yes you have to calculate the integral defined by $Gamma$.
– tmaths
Aug 20 at 11:24




What do you call the factorial of a decimal number ? Do you refer to the $Gamma$ function ? If yes you have to calculate the integral defined by $Gamma$.
– tmaths
Aug 20 at 11:24












A quick google search of "factorial real number" lead to this question. So I think it's a duplicate
– F.Carette
Aug 20 at 11:28




A quick google search of "factorial real number" lead to this question. So I think it's a duplicate
– F.Carette
Aug 20 at 11:28












The other question asks for the definition; this question asks for methods of calculating numeric values with pen and paper.
– MJD
Aug 20 at 11:46




The other question asks for the definition; this question asks for methods of calculating numeric values with pen and paper.
– MJD
Aug 20 at 11:46










2 Answers
2






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1
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You don't calculate $0.5!$ by hand. Decimal factorials do not make sense. The Gamma function might do what you want, but it's not the easiest to do by hand as it's a pretty unfriendly integral, at least in general. You might be able to calculate $Gamma(1.5)$ (which would corespond to $0.5!$) by hand if you really wanted to:
$$
Gamma(1.5) = int_0^infty sqrt x e^-x dx
$$
and it turns out to be $frac12sqrtpi$.






share|cite|improve this answer



























    up vote
    0
    down vote













    You can use Stirling's approximation, but it won't work well for small numbers like $frac12$. For larger numbers, Stirling's approximation is quite good whether for integers or non-integers. It says: $$n! approx sqrt2pi nBigl(frac neBigr)^n.$$



    For example, $12.7!approx 2.8616times10^9$ and the Stirling formula gives around $2.843times10^9$.



    Of course, how to evaluate Stirling's formula with pencil and paper is an interesting question all by itself.



    For smaller numbers of the form $n+frac12$ your best bet is just to know that $$frac12! = frac12sqrtpi$$
    and then use the rule that $(x+1)! = (x+1)x!$ so for example $frac32! = frac32cdot frac12! = frac34sqrtpi$.



    For numbers that are not half-integers, I have no good suggestions. There may be something involving the reciprocal factorial function (that is, $xmapsto frac1x!$) that can be calculated with some accuracy. There is a MacLaurin series that will be accurate, but it does not look easy to calculate with pen and paper.






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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes








      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes








      up vote
      1
      down vote



      accepted










      You don't calculate $0.5!$ by hand. Decimal factorials do not make sense. The Gamma function might do what you want, but it's not the easiest to do by hand as it's a pretty unfriendly integral, at least in general. You might be able to calculate $Gamma(1.5)$ (which would corespond to $0.5!$) by hand if you really wanted to:
      $$
      Gamma(1.5) = int_0^infty sqrt x e^-x dx
      $$
      and it turns out to be $frac12sqrtpi$.






      share|cite|improve this answer
























        up vote
        1
        down vote



        accepted










        You don't calculate $0.5!$ by hand. Decimal factorials do not make sense. The Gamma function might do what you want, but it's not the easiest to do by hand as it's a pretty unfriendly integral, at least in general. You might be able to calculate $Gamma(1.5)$ (which would corespond to $0.5!$) by hand if you really wanted to:
        $$
        Gamma(1.5) = int_0^infty sqrt x e^-x dx
        $$
        and it turns out to be $frac12sqrtpi$.






        share|cite|improve this answer






















          up vote
          1
          down vote



          accepted







          up vote
          1
          down vote



          accepted






          You don't calculate $0.5!$ by hand. Decimal factorials do not make sense. The Gamma function might do what you want, but it's not the easiest to do by hand as it's a pretty unfriendly integral, at least in general. You might be able to calculate $Gamma(1.5)$ (which would corespond to $0.5!$) by hand if you really wanted to:
          $$
          Gamma(1.5) = int_0^infty sqrt x e^-x dx
          $$
          and it turns out to be $frac12sqrtpi$.






          share|cite|improve this answer












          You don't calculate $0.5!$ by hand. Decimal factorials do not make sense. The Gamma function might do what you want, but it's not the easiest to do by hand as it's a pretty unfriendly integral, at least in general. You might be able to calculate $Gamma(1.5)$ (which would corespond to $0.5!$) by hand if you really wanted to:
          $$
          Gamma(1.5) = int_0^infty sqrt x e^-x dx
          $$
          and it turns out to be $frac12sqrtpi$.







          share|cite|improve this answer












          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer










          answered Aug 20 at 11:31









          Arthur

          101k793176




          101k793176




















              up vote
              0
              down vote













              You can use Stirling's approximation, but it won't work well for small numbers like $frac12$. For larger numbers, Stirling's approximation is quite good whether for integers or non-integers. It says: $$n! approx sqrt2pi nBigl(frac neBigr)^n.$$



              For example, $12.7!approx 2.8616times10^9$ and the Stirling formula gives around $2.843times10^9$.



              Of course, how to evaluate Stirling's formula with pencil and paper is an interesting question all by itself.



              For smaller numbers of the form $n+frac12$ your best bet is just to know that $$frac12! = frac12sqrtpi$$
              and then use the rule that $(x+1)! = (x+1)x!$ so for example $frac32! = frac32cdot frac12! = frac34sqrtpi$.



              For numbers that are not half-integers, I have no good suggestions. There may be something involving the reciprocal factorial function (that is, $xmapsto frac1x!$) that can be calculated with some accuracy. There is a MacLaurin series that will be accurate, but it does not look easy to calculate with pen and paper.






              share|cite|improve this answer


























                up vote
                0
                down vote













                You can use Stirling's approximation, but it won't work well for small numbers like $frac12$. For larger numbers, Stirling's approximation is quite good whether for integers or non-integers. It says: $$n! approx sqrt2pi nBigl(frac neBigr)^n.$$



                For example, $12.7!approx 2.8616times10^9$ and the Stirling formula gives around $2.843times10^9$.



                Of course, how to evaluate Stirling's formula with pencil and paper is an interesting question all by itself.



                For smaller numbers of the form $n+frac12$ your best bet is just to know that $$frac12! = frac12sqrtpi$$
                and then use the rule that $(x+1)! = (x+1)x!$ so for example $frac32! = frac32cdot frac12! = frac34sqrtpi$.



                For numbers that are not half-integers, I have no good suggestions. There may be something involving the reciprocal factorial function (that is, $xmapsto frac1x!$) that can be calculated with some accuracy. There is a MacLaurin series that will be accurate, but it does not look easy to calculate with pen and paper.






                share|cite|improve this answer
























                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote









                  You can use Stirling's approximation, but it won't work well for small numbers like $frac12$. For larger numbers, Stirling's approximation is quite good whether for integers or non-integers. It says: $$n! approx sqrt2pi nBigl(frac neBigr)^n.$$



                  For example, $12.7!approx 2.8616times10^9$ and the Stirling formula gives around $2.843times10^9$.



                  Of course, how to evaluate Stirling's formula with pencil and paper is an interesting question all by itself.



                  For smaller numbers of the form $n+frac12$ your best bet is just to know that $$frac12! = frac12sqrtpi$$
                  and then use the rule that $(x+1)! = (x+1)x!$ so for example $frac32! = frac32cdot frac12! = frac34sqrtpi$.



                  For numbers that are not half-integers, I have no good suggestions. There may be something involving the reciprocal factorial function (that is, $xmapsto frac1x!$) that can be calculated with some accuracy. There is a MacLaurin series that will be accurate, but it does not look easy to calculate with pen and paper.






                  share|cite|improve this answer














                  You can use Stirling's approximation, but it won't work well for small numbers like $frac12$. For larger numbers, Stirling's approximation is quite good whether for integers or non-integers. It says: $$n! approx sqrt2pi nBigl(frac neBigr)^n.$$



                  For example, $12.7!approx 2.8616times10^9$ and the Stirling formula gives around $2.843times10^9$.



                  Of course, how to evaluate Stirling's formula with pencil and paper is an interesting question all by itself.



                  For smaller numbers of the form $n+frac12$ your best bet is just to know that $$frac12! = frac12sqrtpi$$
                  and then use the rule that $(x+1)! = (x+1)x!$ so for example $frac32! = frac32cdot frac12! = frac34sqrtpi$.



                  For numbers that are not half-integers, I have no good suggestions. There may be something involving the reciprocal factorial function (that is, $xmapsto frac1x!$) that can be calculated with some accuracy. There is a MacLaurin series that will be accurate, but it does not look easy to calculate with pen and paper.







                  share|cite|improve this answer














                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer








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