Gamma and factorial Functions (Maxima 5.45.0 Manual)

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### 15.4 Gamma and factorial Functions

The gamma function and the related beta, psi and incomplete gamma functions are defined in Abramowitz and Stegun, Handbook of Mathematical Functions, Chapter 6.

Function: bffac (expr, n)

  Bigfloat version of the factorial (shifted gamma) function. The second argument is how many digits to retain and return, it’s a good idea to request a couple of extra.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions Numerical evaluation

Function: bfpsi (n, z, fpprec)
Function: bfpsi0 (z, fpprec)

  `bfpsi` is the polygamma function of real argument z and integer order n. `bfpsi0` is the digamma function. `bfpsi0 (z, fpprec)` is equivalent to `bfpsi (0, z, fpprec)`.

  These functions return bigfloat values. fpprec is the bigfloat precision of the return value.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions Numerical evaluation

Function: cbffac (z, fpprec)

  Complex bigfloat factorial.

  `load ("bffac")` loads this function.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions Complex variables Numerical evaluation

Function: gamma (z)

  The basic definition of the gamma function (A&S 6.1.1) is

                               inf
                              /
                              [     z - 1   - t
                   gamma(z) = I    t      %e    dt
                              ]
                              /
                               0

  Maxima simplifies `gamma` for positive integer and positive and negative rational numbers. For half integral values the result is a rational number times `sqrt(%pi)`. The simplification for integer values is controlled by `factlim`. For integers greater than `factlim` the numerical result of the factorial function, which is used to calculate `gamma`, will overflow. The simplification for rational numbers is controlled by `gammalim` to avoid internal overflow. See `factlim` and `gammalim`.

  For negative integers `gamma` is not defined.

  Maxima can evaluate `gamma` numerically for real and complex values in float and bigfloat precision.

  `gamma` has mirror symmetry.

  When `gamma_expand` is `true`, Maxima expands `gamma` for arguments `z+n` and `z-n` where `n` is an integer.

  Maxima knows the derivate of `gamma`.

  Examples:

  Simplification for integer, half integral, and rational numbers:

      (%i1) map('gamma,[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]);
      (%o1)        [1, 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, 720, 5040, 40320]
      (%i2) map('gamma,[1/2,3/2,5/2,7/2]);
                          sqrt(%pi)  3 sqrt(%pi)  15 sqrt(%pi)
      (%o2)   [sqrt(%pi), ---------, -----------, ------------]
                              2           4            8
      (%i3) map('gamma,[2/3,5/3,7/3]);
                                        2           1
                                2 gamma(-)  4 gamma(-)
                            2           3           3
      (%o3)          [gamma(-), ----------, ----------]
                            3       3           9

  Numerical evaluation for real and complex values:

      (%i4) map('gamma,[2.5,2.5b0]);
      (%o4)     [1.329340388179137, 1.3293403881791370205b0]
      (%i5) map('gamma,[1.0+%i,1.0b0+%i]);
      (%o5) [0.498015668118356 - .1549498283018107 %i,
                4.9801566811835604272b-1 - 1.5494982830181068513b-1 %i]

  `gamma` has mirror symmetry:

      (%i6) declare(z,complex)$
      (%i7) conjugate(gamma(z));
      (%o7)                  gamma(conjugate(z))

  Maxima expands `gamma(z+n)` and `gamma(z-n)`, when `gamma_expand` is `true`:

      (%i8) gamma_expand:true$

      (%i9) [gamma(z+1),gamma(z-1),gamma(z+2)/gamma(z+1)];
                                     gamma(z)
      (%o9)             [z gamma(z), --------, z + 1]
                                      z - 1

  The deriviative of `gamma`:

      (%i10) diff(gamma(z),z);
      (%o10)                  psi (z) gamma(z)
                                 0

  See also `makegamma`.

  The Euler-Mascheroni constant is `%gamma`.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions Special functions

Function: log_gamma (z)

  The natural logarithm of the gamma function.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions Special functions

Function: gamma_incomplete_lower (a, z)

  The lower incomplete gamma function (A&S 6.5.2):

                                          z
                                         /
                                         [  a - 1   - t
          gamma_incomplete_lower(a, z) = I t      %e    dt
                                         ]
                                         /
                                          0

  See also `gamma_incomplete` (upper incomplete gamma function).

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions Special functions

Function: gamma_incomplete (a, z)

  The incomplete upper gamma function (A&S 6.5.3):

                                    inf
                                   /
                                   [     a - 1   - t
          gamma_incomplete(a, z) = I    t      %e    dt
                                   ]
                                   /
                                    z

  See also `gamma_expand` for controlling how `gamma_incomplete` is expressed in terms of elementary functions and `erfc`.

  Also see the related functions `gamma_incomplete_regularized` and `gamma_incomplete_generalized`.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions Special functions

Function: gamma_incomplete_regularized (a, z)

  The regularized incomplete upper gamma function (A&S 6.5.1):

      gamma_incomplete_regularized(a, z) =
                                              gamma_incomplete(a, z)
                                              ----------------------
                                                     gamma(a)

  See also `gamma_expand` for controlling how `gamma_incomplete` is expressed in terms of elementary functions and `erfc`.

  Also see `gamma_incomplete`.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions Special functions

Function: gamma_incomplete_generalized (a, z1, z1)

  The generalized incomplete gamma function.

      gamma_incomplete_generalized(a, z1, z2) =
                                                     z2
                                                    /
                                                    [    a - 1   - t
                                                    I   t      %e    dt
                                                    ]
                                                    /
                                                     z1

  Also see `gamma_incomplete` and `gamma_incomplete_regularized`.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions Special functions

Option variable: gamma_expand

  Default value: `false`

  `gamma_expand` controls expansion of `gamma_incomplete`. When `gamma_expand` is `true`, `gamma_incomplete(v,z)` is expanded in terms of `z`, `exp(z)`, and `gamma_incomplete` or `erfc(z)` when possible.

      (%i1) gamma_incomplete(2,z);
      (%o1)                       gamma_incomplete(2, z)
      (%i2) gamma_expand:true;
      (%o2)                                true
      (%i3) gamma_incomplete(2,z);
                                                 - z
      (%o3)                            (z + 1) %e

      (%i4) gamma_incomplete(3/2,z);
                                    - z   sqrt(%pi) erfc(sqrt(z))
      (%o4)               sqrt(z) %e    + -----------------------
                                                     2

      (%i5) gamma_incomplete(4/3,z);
                                                          1
                                         gamma_incomplete(-, z)
                             1/3   - z                    3
      (%o5)                 z    %e    + ----------------------
                                                   3

      (%i6) gamma_incomplete(a+2,z);
                   a               - z
      (%o6)       z  (z + a + 1) %e    + a (a + 1) gamma_incomplete(a, z)
      (%i7) gamma_incomplete(a-2, z);
              gamma_incomplete(a, z)    a - 2         z            1      - z
      (%o7)   ---------------------- - z      (--------------- + -----) %e
                 (1 - a) (2 - a)               (a - 2) (a - 1)   a - 2

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions Simplification flags and variables

Option variable: gammalim

  Default value: 10000

  `gammalim` controls simplification of the gamma function for integral and rational number arguments. If the absolute value of the argument is not greater than `gammalim`, then simplification will occur. Note that the `factlim` switch controls simplification of the result of `gamma` of an integer argument as well.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions Simplification flags and variables

Function: makegamma (expr)

  Transforms instances of binomial, factorial, and beta functions in expr into gamma functions.

  See also `makefact`.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions

Function: beta (a, b)

  The beta function is defined as `gamma(a) gamma(b)/gamma(a+b)` (A&S 6.2.1).

  Maxima simplifies the beta function for positive integers and rational numbers, which sum to an integer. When `beta_args_sum_to_integer` is `true`, Maxima simplifies also general expressions which sum to an integer.

  For a or b equal to zero the beta function is not defined.

  In general the beta function is not defined for negative integers as an argument. The exception is for a=-n, n a positive integer and b a positive integer with `b<=n`, it is possible to define an analytic continuation. Maxima gives for this case a result.

  When `beta_expand` is `true`, expressions like `beta(a+n,b)` and `beta(a-n,b)` or `beta(a,b+n)` and `beta(a,b-n)` with `n` an integer are simplified.

  Maxima can evaluate the beta function for real and complex values in float and bigfloat precision. For numerical evaluation Maxima uses `log_gamma`:

                 - log_gamma(b + a) + log_gamma(b) + log_gamma(a)
               %e

  Maxima knows that the beta function is symmetric and has mirror symmetry.

  Maxima knows the derivatives of the beta function with respect to a or b.

  To express the beta function as a ratio of gamma functions see `makegamma`.

  Examples:

  Simplification, when one of the arguments is an integer:

      (%i1) [beta(2,3),beta(2,1/3),beta(2,a)];
                                     1   9      1
      (%o1)                         [--, -, ---------]
                                     12  4  a (a + 1)

  Simplification for two rational numbers as arguments which sum to an integer:

      (%i2) [beta(1/2,5/2),beta(1/3,2/3),beta(1/4,3/4)];
                                3 %pi   2 %pi
      (%o2)                    [-----, -------, sqrt(2) %pi]
                                  8    sqrt(3)

  When setting `beta_args_sum_to_integer` to `true` more general expression are simplified, when the sum of the arguments is an integer:

      (%i3) beta_args_sum_to_integer:true$
      (%i4) beta(a+1,-a+2);
                                      %pi (a - 1) a
      (%o4)                         ------------------
                                    2 sin(%pi (2 - a))

  The possible results, when one of the arguments is a negative integer:

      (%i5) [beta(-3,1),beta(-3,2),beta(-3,3)];
                                          1  1    1
      (%o5)                            [- -, -, - -]
                                          3  6    3

  `beta(a+n,b)` or `beta(a-n)` with `n` an integer simplifies when `beta_expand` is `true`:

      (%i6) beta_expand:true$
      (%i7) [beta(a+1,b),beta(a-1,b),beta(a+1,b)/beta(a,b+1)];
                          a beta(a, b)  beta(a, b) (b + a - 1)  a
      (%o7)              [------------, ----------------------, -]
                             b + a              a - 1           b

  Beta is not defined, when one of the arguments is zero:

      (%i7) beta(0,b);
      beta: expected nonzero arguments; found 0, b
       -- an error.  To debug this try debugmode(true);

  Numerical evaluation for real and complex arguments in float or bigfloat precision:

      (%i8) beta(2.5,2.3);
      (%o8) .08694748611299981

      (%i9) beta(2.5,1.4+%i);
      (%o9) 0.0640144950796695 - .1502078053286415 %i

      (%i10) beta(2.5b0,2.3b0);
      (%o10) 8.694748611299969b-2

      (%i11) beta(2.5b0,1.4b0+%i);
      (%o11) 6.401449507966944b-2 - 1.502078053286415b-1 %i

  Beta is symmetric and has mirror symmetry:

      (%i14) beta(a,b)-beta(b,a);
      (%o14)                                 0
      (%i15) declare(a,complex,b,complex)$
      (%i16) conjugate(beta(a,b));
      (%o16)                 beta(conjugate(a), conjugate(b))

  The derivative of the beta function wrt `a`:

      (%i17) diff(beta(a,b),a);
      (%o17)               - beta(a, b) (psi (b + a) - psi (a))
                                            0             0

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions

Function: beta_incomplete (a, b, z)

  The basic definition of the incomplete beta function (A&S 6.6.1) is

              z
             /
             [         b - 1  a - 1
             I  (1 - t)      t      dt
             ]
             /
              0

  This definition is possible for realpart(a)>0 and realpart(b)>0 and abs(z)<1. For other values the incomplete beta function can be defined through a generalized hypergeometric function:

         gamma(a) hypergeometric_generalized([a, 1 - b], [a + 1], z) z

  (See https://functions.wolfram.com for a complete definition of the incomplete beta function.)

  For negative integers a = -n and positive integers b=m with m<=n the incomplete beta function is defined through

                                  m - 1           k
                                  ====  (1 - m)  z
                            n - 1 \            k
                           z       >    -----------
                                  /     k! (n - k)
                                  ====
                                  k = 0

  Maxima uses this definition to simplify `beta_incomplete` for a a negative integer.

  For a a positive integer, `beta_incomplete` simplifies for any argument b and z and for b a positive integer for any argument a and z, with the exception of a a negative integer.

  For z=0 and realpart(a)>0, `beta_incomplete` has the specific value zero. For z=1 and realpart(b)>0, `beta_incomplete` simplifies to the beta function `beta(a,b)`.

  Maxima evaluates `beta_incomplete` numerically for real and complex values in float or bigfloat precision. For the numerical evaluation an expansion of the incomplete beta function in continued fractions is used.

  When the option variable `beta_expand` is `true`, Maxima expands expressions like `beta_incomplete(a+n,b,z)` and `beta_incomplete(a-n,b,z)` where n is a positive integer.

  Maxima knows the derivatives of `beta_incomplete` with respect to the variables a, b and z and the integral with respect to the variable z.

  Examples:

  Simplification for a a positive integer:

      (%i1) beta_incomplete(2,b,z);
                                             b
                                  1 - (1 - z)  (b z + 1)
      (%o1)                       ----------------------
                                        b (b + 1)

  Simplification for b a positive integer:

      (%i2) beta_incomplete(a,2,z);
                                                     a
                                    (a (1 - z) + 1) z
      (%o2)                         ------------------
                                        a (a + 1)

  Simplification for a and b a positive integer:

      (%i3) beta_incomplete(3,2,z);

                                                     3
                                    (3 (1 - z) + 1) z
      (%o3)                         ------------------
                                            12

  a is a negative integer and b<=(-a), Maxima simplifies:

      (%i4) beta_incomplete(-3,1,z);
                                             1
      (%o4)                              - ----
                                              3
                                           3 z

  For the specific values z=0 and z=1, Maxima simplifies:

      (%i5) assume(a>0,b>0)$
      (%i6) beta_incomplete(a,b,0);
      (%o6)                                 0
      (%i7) beta_incomplete(a,b,1);
      (%o7)                            beta(a, b)

  Numerical evaluation in float or bigfloat precision:

      (%i8) beta_incomplete(0.25,0.50,0.9);
      (%o8)                          4.594959440269333
      (%i9)  fpprec:25$
      (%i10) beta_incomplete(0.25,0.50,0.9b0);
      (%o10)                    4.594959440269324086971203b0

  For abs(z)>1 `beta_incomplete` returns a complex result:

      (%i11) beta_incomplete(0.25,0.50,1.7);
      (%o11)              5.244115108584249 - 1.45518047787844 %i

  Results for more general complex arguments:

      (%i14) beta_incomplete(0.25+%i,1.0+%i,1.7+%i);
      (%o14)             2.726960675662536 - .3831175704269199 %i
      (%i15) beta_incomplete(1/2,5/4*%i,2.8+%i);
      (%o15)             13.04649635168716 %i - 5.802067956270001
      (%i16)

  Expansion, when `beta_expand` is `true`:

      (%i23) beta_incomplete(a+1,b,z),beta_expand:true;
                                                             b  a
                         a beta_incomplete(a, b, z)   (1 - z)  z
      (%o23)             -------------------------- - -----------
                                   b + a                 b + a

      (%i24) beta_incomplete(a-1,b,z),beta_expand:true;
                                                             b  a - 1
             beta_incomplete(a, b, z) (- b - a + 1)   (1 - z)  z
      (%o24) -------------------------------------- - ---------------
                             1 - a                         1 - a

  Derivative and integral for `beta_incomplete`:

      (%i34) diff(beta_incomplete(a, b, z), z);

                                    b - 1  a - 1
      (%o34)                 (1 - z)      z

      (%i35) integrate(beta_incomplete(a, b, z), z);
                    b  a
             (1 - z)  z
      (%o35) ----------- + beta_incomplete(a, b, z) z
                b + a
                                             a beta_incomplete(a, b, z)
                                           - --------------------------
                                                       b + a
      (%i36) factor(diff(%, z));
      (%o36)              beta_incomplete(a, b, z)

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions

Function: beta_incomplete_regularized (a, b, z)

  The regularized incomplete beta function (A&S 6.6.2), defined as

      beta_incomplete_regularized(a, b, z) =
                                            beta_incomplete(a, b, z)
                                            ------------------------
                                                   beta(a, b)

  As for `beta_incomplete` this definition is not complete. See https://functions.wolfram.com for a complete definition of `beta_incomplete_regularized`.

  `beta_incomplete_regularized` simplifies a or b a positive integer.

  For z=0 and realpart(a)>0, `beta_incomplete_regularized` has the specific value 0. For z=1 and realpart(b)>0, `beta_incomplete_regularized` simplifies to 1.

  Maxima can evaluate `beta_incomplete_regularized` for real and complex arguments in float and bigfloat precision.

  When `beta_expand` is `true`, Maxima expands `beta_incomplete_regularized` for arguments a+n or a-n, where n is an integer.

  Maxima knows the derivatives of `beta_incomplete_regularized` with respect to the variables a, b, and z and the integral with respect to the variable z.

  Examples:

  Simplification for a or b a positive integer:

      (%i1) beta_incomplete_regularized(2,b,z);
                                             b
      (%o1)                       1 - (1 - z)  (b z + 1)

      (%i2) beta_incomplete_regularized(a,2,z);
                                                     a
      (%o2)                         (a (1 - z) + 1) z

      (%i3) beta_incomplete_regularized(3,2,z);
                                                     3
      (%o3)                         (3 (1 - z) + 1) z

  For the specific values z=0 and z=1, Maxima simplifies:

      (%i4) assume(a>0,b>0)$
      (%i5) beta_incomplete_regularized(a,b,0);
      (%o5)                                 0
      (%i6) beta_incomplete_regularized(a,b,1);
      (%o6)                                 1

  Numerical evaluation for real and complex arguments in float and bigfloat precision:

      (%i7) beta_incomplete_regularized(0.12,0.43,0.9);
      (%o7)                         .9114011367359802
      (%i8) fpprec:32$
      (%i9) beta_incomplete_regularized(0.12,0.43,0.9b0);
      (%o9)               9.1140113673598075519946998779975b-1
      (%i10) beta_incomplete_regularized(1+%i,3/3,1.5*%i);
      (%o10)             .2865367499935403 %i - 0.122995963334684
      (%i11) fpprec:20$
      (%i12) beta_incomplete_regularized(1+%i,3/3,1.5b0*%i);
      (%o12)      2.8653674999354036142b-1 %i - 1.2299596333468400163b-1

  Expansion, when `beta_expand` is `true`:

      (%i13) beta_incomplete_regularized(a+1,b,z);
                                                           b  a
                                                    (1 - z)  z
      (%o13) beta_incomplete_regularized(a, b, z) - ------------
                                                    a beta(a, b)
      (%i14) beta_incomplete_regularized(a-1,b,z);
      (%o14) beta_incomplete_regularized(a, b, z)
                                                           b  a - 1
                                                    (1 - z)  z
                                               - ----------------------
                                                 beta(a, b) (b + a - 1)

  The derivative and the integral wrt z:

      (%i15) diff(beta_incomplete_regularized(a,b,z),z);
                                    b - 1  a - 1
                             (1 - z)      z
      (%o15)                 -------------------
                                 beta(a, b)
      (%i16) integrate(beta_incomplete_regularized(a,b,z),z);
      (%o16) beta_incomplete_regularized(a, b, z) z
                                                                 b  a
                                                          (1 - z)  z
                a (beta_incomplete_regularized(a, b, z) - ------------)
                                                          a beta(a, b)
              - -------------------------------------------------------
                                         b + a

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions

Function: beta_incomplete_generalized (a, b, z1, z2)

  The basic definition of the generalized incomplete beta function is

                   z2
                 /
                 [          b - 1  a - 1
                 I   (1 - t)      t      dt
                 ]
                 /
                  z1

  Maxima simplifies `beta_incomplete_regularized` for a and b a positive integer.

  For realpart(a)>0 and z1=0 or z2=0, Maxima simplifies `beta_incomplete_generalized` to `beta_incomplete`. For realpart(b)>0 and z1=1 or z2=1, Maxima simplifies to an expression with `beta` and `beta_incomplete`.

  Maxima evaluates `beta_incomplete_regularized` for real and complex values in float and bigfloat precision.

  When `beta_expand` is `true`, Maxima expands `beta_incomplete_generalized` for a+n and a-n, n a positive integer.

  Maxima knows the derivative of `beta_incomplete_generalized` with respect to the variables a, b, z1, and z2 and the integrals with respect to the variables z1 and z2.

  Examples:

  Maxima simplifies `beta_incomplete_generalized` for a and b a positive integer:

      (%i1) beta_incomplete_generalized(2,b,z1,z2);
                         b                      b
                 (1 - z1)  (b z1 + 1) - (1 - z2)  (b z2 + 1)
      (%o1)      -------------------------------------------
                                  b (b + 1)
      (%i2) beta_incomplete_generalized(a,2,z1,z2);

                                    a                      a
                 (a (1 - z2) + 1) z2  - (a (1 - z1) + 1) z1
      (%o2)      -------------------------------------------
                                  a (a + 1)

      (%i3) beta_incomplete_generalized(3,2,z1,z2);
                    2      2                       2      2
            (1 - z1)  (3 z1  + 2 z1 + 1) - (1 - z2)  (3 z2  + 2 z2 + 1)
      (%o3) -----------------------------------------------------------
                                        12

  Simplification for specific values z1=0, z2=0, z1=1, or z2=1:

      (%i4) assume(a > 0, b > 0)$
      (%i5) beta_incomplete_generalized(a,b,z1,0);
      (%o5)                    - beta_incomplete(a, b, z1)

      (%i6) beta_incomplete_generalized(a,b,0,z2);
      (%o6)                    - beta_incomplete(a, b, z2)

      (%i7) beta_incomplete_generalized(a,b,z1,1);
      (%o7)              beta(a, b) - beta_incomplete(a, b, z1)

      (%i8) beta_incomplete_generalized(a,b,1,z2);
      (%o8)              beta_incomplete(a, b, z2) - beta(a, b)

  Numerical evaluation for real arguments in float or bigfloat precision:

      (%i9) beta_incomplete_generalized(1/2,3/2,0.25,0.31);
      (%o9)                        .09638178086368676

      (%i10) fpprec:32$
      (%i10) beta_incomplete_generalized(1/2,3/2,0.25,0.31b0);
      (%o10)               9.6381780863686935309170054689964b-2

  Numerical evaluation for complex arguments in float or bigfloat precision:

      (%i11) beta_incomplete_generalized(1/2+%i,3/2+%i,0.25,0.31);
      (%o11)           - .09625463003205376 %i - .003323847735353769
      (%i12) fpprec:20$
      (%i13) beta_incomplete_generalized(1/2+%i,3/2+%i,0.25,0.31b0);
      (%o13)     - 9.6254630032054178691b-2 %i - 3.3238477353543591914b-3

  Expansion for a+n or a-n, n a positive integer, when `beta_expand` is `true`:

      (%i14) beta_expand:true$

      (%i15) beta_incomplete_generalized(a+1,b,z1,z2);

                     b   a           b   a
             (1 - z1)  z1  - (1 - z2)  z2
      (%o15) -----------------------------
                         b + a
                            a beta_incomplete_generalized(a, b, z1, z2)
                          + -------------------------------------------
                                               b + a
      (%i16) beta_incomplete_generalized(a-1,b,z1,z2);

             beta_incomplete_generalized(a, b, z1, z2) (- b - a + 1)
      (%o16) -------------------------------------------------------
                                      1 - a
                                          b   a - 1           b   a - 1
                                  (1 - z2)  z2      - (1 - z1)  z1
                                - -------------------------------------
                                                  1 - a

  Derivative wrt the variable z1 and integrals wrt z1 and z2:

      (%i17) diff(beta_incomplete_generalized(a,b,z1,z2),z1);
                                     b - 1   a - 1
      (%o17)               - (1 - z1)      z1
      (%i18) integrate(beta_incomplete_generalized(a,b,z1,z2),z1);
      (%o18) beta_incomplete_generalized(a, b, z1, z2) z1
                                        + beta_incomplete(a + 1, b, z1)
      (%i19) integrate(beta_incomplete_generalized(a,b,z1,z2),z2);
      (%o19) beta_incomplete_generalized(a, b, z1, z2) z2
                                        - beta_incomplete(a + 1, b, z2)

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions

Option variable: beta_expand

  Default value: false

  When `beta_expand` is `true`, `beta(a,b)` and related functions are expanded for arguments like a+n or a-n, where n is an integer.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions Simplification flags and variables

Option variable: beta_args_sum_to_integer

  Default value: false

  When `beta_args_sum_to_integer` is `true`, Maxima simplifies `beta(a,b)`, when the arguments a and b sum to an integer.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions Simplification flags and variables

Function: psi [n](x)

  The derivative of `log (gamma (x))` of order `n+1`. Thus, `psi[0](x)` is the first derivative, `psi[1](x)` is the second derivative, etc.

  Maxima does not know how, in general, to compute a numerical value of `psi`, but it can compute some exact values for rational args. Several variables control what range of rational args `psi` will return an exact value, if possible. See `maxpsiposint`, `maxpsinegint`, `maxpsifracnum`, and `maxpsifracdenom`. That is, x must lie between `maxpsinegint` and `maxpsiposint`. If the absolute value of the fractional part of x is rational and has a numerator less than `maxpsifracnum` and has a denominator less than `maxpsifracdenom`, `psi` will return an exact value.

  The function `bfpsi` in the `bffac` package can compute numerical values.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions

Option variable: maxpsiposint

  Default value: 20

  `maxpsiposint` is the largest positive value for which `psi[n](x)` will try to compute an exact value.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions

Option variable: maxpsinegint

  Default value: -10

  `maxpsinegint` is the most negative value for which `psi[n](x)` will try to compute an exact value. That is if x is less than `maxnegint`, `psi[n](x)` will not return simplified answer, even if it could.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions

Option variable: maxpsifracnum

  Default value: 6

  Let x be a rational number less than one of the form `p/q`. If `p` is greater than `maxpsifracnum`, then `psi[n](x)` will not try to return a simplified value.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions

Option variable: maxpsifracdenom

  Default value: 6

  Let x be a rational number less than one of the form `p/q`. If `q` is greater than `maxpsifracdenom`, then `psi[n](x)` will not try to return a simplified value.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions

Function: makefact (expr)

  Transforms instances of binomial, gamma, and beta functions in expr into factorials.

  See also `makegamma`.

  Categories: Gamma and factorial functions

Function: numfactor (expr)

  Returns the numerical factor multiplying the expression expr, which should be a single term.

  `content` returns the greatest common divisor (gcd) of all terms in a sum.

      (%i1) gamma (7/2);
                                15 sqrt(%pi)
      (%o1)                     ------------
                                     8
      (%i2) numfactor (%);
                                     15
      (%o2)                          --
                                     8

  Categories: Expressions

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