Stirling's approximation: Difference between revisions

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James Stirling (1692-1770, Scotland)
James Stirling (1692-1770, Scotland)


:<math>\left.\ln N!\right. = \ln 1 + \ln 2 + \ln 3 + ... + \ln N = \sum_{k=1}^N \ln k</math>
:<math>\left.\ln N!\right. = \ln 1 + \ln 2 + \ln 3 + ... + \ln N = \sum_{k=1}^N \ln k .</math>


Because of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euler-Maclaurin_formula Euler-MacLaurin formula]
Because of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euler-Maclaurin_formula Euler-MacLaurin formula]


:<math>\sum_{k=1}^N \ln k=\int_1^N \ln x\,dx+\sum_{k=1}^p\frac{B_{2k}}{2k(2k-1)}\left(\frac{1}{n^{2k-1}}-1\right)+R</math>
:<math>\sum_{k=1}^N \ln k=\int_1^N \ln x\,dx+\sum_{k=1}^p\frac{B_{2k}}{2k(2k-1)}\left(\frac{1}{n^{2k-1}}-1\right)+R ,</math>


where ''B''<sub>1</sub> = &minus;1/2, ''B''<sub>2</sub> = 1/6, ''B''<sub>3</sub> = 0, ''B''<sub>4</sub> = &minus;1/30, ''B''<sub>5</sub> = 0, ''B''<sub>6</sub> = 1/42, ''B''<sub>7</sub> = 0, ''B''<sub>8</sub> = &minus;1/30, ... are the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernoulli_numbers Bernoulli numbers], and ''R'' is an error term which is normally small for suitable values of ''p''.
where ''B''<sub>1</sub> = &minus;1/2, ''B''<sub>2</sub> = 1/6, ''B''<sub>3</sub> = 0, ''B''<sub>4</sub> = &minus;1/30, ''B''<sub>5</sub> = 0, ''B''<sub>6</sub> = 1/42, ''B''<sub>7</sub> = 0, ''B''<sub>8</sub> = &minus;1/30, ... are the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernoulli_numbers Bernoulli numbers], and ''R'' is an error term which is normally small for suitable values of ''p''.
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Then, for large ''N'',
Then, for large ''N'',


:<math>\ln N! \sim \int_1^N \ln x\,dx \sim N \ln N -N</math>
:<math>\ln N! \sim \int_1^N \ln x\,dx \sim N \ln N -N .</math>
[[Category: Mathematics]]
[[Category: Mathematics]]

Revision as of 14:50, 28 March 2007

James Stirling (1692-1770, Scotland)

Because of Euler-MacLaurin formula

where B1 = −1/2, B2 = 1/6, B3 = 0, B4 = −1/30, B5 = 0, B6 = 1/42, B7 = 0, B8 = −1/30, ... are the Bernoulli numbers, and R is an error term which is normally small for suitable values of p.

Then, for large N,