Recurrence relation for gamma function: Difference between revisions

From Companal
(New page: ==Statement== Let <math>\Gamma</math> denote the gamma function as defined on the right half-plane by: <math>\Gamma(z) = \int_0^\infty t^{z-1}e^{-t} \, dt</math> Then, <math>\Ga...)
 
m (2 revisions)
 
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)
(No difference)

Latest revision as of 19:17, 18 May 2008

Statement

Let Γ denote the gamma function as defined on the right half-plane by:

Γ(z)=0tz1etdt

Then, Γ satisfies the following functional equation:

Γ(z+1)=zΓ(z)

whenever z is in the right half-plane.

In fact, we use this functional equation to extend Γ to a meromorphic function on C, so the functional equation holds more generally for any z that is not a non-positive integer (non-positive integers are precisely the simple poles).

Proof

The proof is using integration by parts.