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10.3 Combinatorial Functions

Operator: !!

The double factorial operator.

For an integer, float, or rational number n, n!! evaluates to the product n (n-2) (n-4) (n-6) ... (n - 2 (k-1)) where k is equal to entier (n/2), that is, the largest integer less than or equal to n/2. Note that this definition does not coincide with other published definitions for arguments which are not integers.

For an even (or odd) integer n, n!! evaluates to the product of all the consecutive even (or odd) integers from 2 (or 1) through n inclusive.

For an argument n which is not an integer, float, or rational, n!! yields a noun form genfact (n, n/2, 2).

Function: binomial (x, y)

The binomial coefficient x!/(y! (x - y)!). If x and y are integers, then the numerical value of the binomial coefficient is computed. If y, or x - y, is an integer, the binomial coefficient is expressed as a polynomial.

Examples:

(%i1) binomial (11, 7);
(%o1)                          330
(%i2) 11! / 7! / (11 - 7)!;
(%o2)                          330
(%i3) binomial (x, 7);
        (x - 6) (x - 5) (x - 4) (x - 3) (x - 2) (x - 1) x
(%o3)   -------------------------------------------------
                              5040
(%i4) binomial (x + 7, x);
      (x + 1) (x + 2) (x + 3) (x + 4) (x + 5) (x + 6) (x + 7)
(%o4) -------------------------------------------------------
                               5040
(%i5) binomial (11, y);
(%o5)                    binomial(11, y)
Categories: Number theory ·
Function: factcomb (expr)

Tries to combine the coefficients of factorials in expr with the factorials themselves by converting, for example, (n + 1)*n! into (n + 1)!.

sumsplitfact if set to false will cause minfactorial to be applied after a factcomb.

Example:

(%i1) sumsplitfact;
(%o1)                         true
(%i2) (n + 1)*(n + 1)*n!;
                                  2
(%o2)                      (n + 1)  n!
(%i3) factcomb (%);
(%o3)                  (n + 2)! - (n + 1)!
(%i4) sumsplitfact: not sumsplitfact;
(%o4)                         false
(%i5) (n + 1)*(n + 1)*n!;
                                  2
(%o5)                      (n + 1)  n!
(%i6) factcomb (%);
(%o6)                 n (n + 1)! + (n + 1)!
Function: factorial
Operator: !

Represents the factorial function. Maxima treats factorial (x) the same as x!.

For any complex number x, except for negative integers, x! is defined as gamma(x+1).

For an integer x, x! simplifies to the product of the integers from 1 to x inclusive. 0! simplifies to 1. For a real or complex number in float or bigfloat precision x, x! simplifies to the value of gamma (x+1). For x equal to n/2 where n is an odd integer, x! simplifies to a rational factor times sqrt (%pi) (since gamma (1/2) is equal to sqrt (%pi)).

The option variables factlim and gammalim control the numerical evaluation of factorials for integer and rational arguments. The functions minfactorial and factcomb simplifies expressions containing factorials.

The functions gamma, bffac, and cbffac are varieties of the gamma function. bffac and cbffac are called internally by gamma to evaluate the gamma function for real and complex numbers in bigfloat precision.

makegamma substitutes gamma for factorials and related functions.

Maxima knows the derivative of the factorial function and the limits for specific values like negative integers.

The option variable factorial_expand controls the simplification of expressions like (n+x)!, where n is an integer.

See also binomial.

The factorial of an integer is simplified to an exact number unless the operand is greater than factlim. The factorial for real and complex numbers is evaluated in float or bigfloat precision.

(%i1) factlim : 10;
(%o1)                          10
(%i2) [0!, (7/2)!, 8!, 20!];
                     105 sqrt(%pi)
(%o2)            [1, -------------, 40320, 20!]
                          16
(%i3) [4,77!, (1.0+%i)!];
(%o3) [4, 77!, 0.3430658398165453 %i + 0.6529654964201667]
(%i4) [2.86b0!, (1.0b0+%i)!];
(%o4) [5.046635586910012b0, 3.430658398165454b-1 %i
                                          + 6.529654964201667b-1]

The factorial of a known constant, or general expression is not simplified. Even so it may be possible to simplify the factorial after evaluating the operand.

(%i1) [(%i + 1)!, %pi!, %e!, (cos(1) + sin(1))!];
(%o1)      [(%i + 1)!, %pi!, %e!, (sin(1) + cos(1))!]
(%i2) ev (%, numer, %enumer);
(%o2) [0.3430658398165453 %i + 0.6529654964201667, 
         7.188082728976031, 4.260820476357003, 1.227580202486819]

Factorials are simplified, not evaluated. Thus x! may be replaced even in a quoted expression.

(%i1) '([0!, (7/2)!, 4.77!, 8!, 20!]);
          105 sqrt(%pi)
(%o1) [1, -------------, 81.44668037931197, 40320, 
               16
                                             2432902008176640000]

Maxima knows the derivative of the factorial function.

(%i1) diff(x!,x);
(%o1)                    x! psi (x + 1)
                               0

The option variable factorial_expand controls expansion and simplification of expressions with the factorial function.

(%i1) (n+1)!/n!,factorial_expand:true;
(%o1)                         n + 1
Option variable: factlim

Default value: 100000

factlim specifies the highest factorial which is automatically expanded. If it is -1 then all integers are expanded.

Option variable: factorial_expand

Default value: false

The option variable factorial_expand controls the simplification of expressions like (x+n)!, where n is an integer. See factorial for an example.

Function: genfact (x, y, z)

Returns the generalized factorial, defined as x (x-z) (x - 2 z) ... (x - (y - 1) z). Thus, when x is an integer, genfact (x, x, 1) = x! and genfact (x, x/2, 2) = x!!.

Function: minfactorial (expr)

Examines expr for occurrences of two factorials which differ by an integer. minfactorial then turns one into a polynomial times the other.

(%i1) n!/(n+2)!;
                               n!
(%o1)                       --------
                            (n + 2)!
(%i2) minfactorial (%);
                                1
(%o2)                    ---------------
                         (n + 1) (n + 2)
Categories: Number theory ·
Option variable: sumsplitfact

Default value: true

When sumsplitfact is false, minfactorial is applied after a factcomb.

(%i1) sumsplitfact;
(%o1)                         true
(%i2) n!/(n+2)!;
                               n!
(%o2)                       --------
                            (n + 2)!
(%i3) factcomb(%);
                               n!
(%o3)                       --------
                            (n + 2)!
(%i4) sumsplitfact: not sumsplitfact ;
(%o4)                         false
(%i5) n!/(n+2)!;
                               n!
(%o5)                       --------
                            (n + 2)!
(%i6) factcomb(%);
                                1
(%o6)                    ---------------
                         (n + 1) (n + 2)

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