I'm reading wiki page for Gamma function , where it says:
… Moreover, the gamma function has the following Laurent expansion in 1
$$\Gamma(z) = 1+\sum_{k=1}^\infty\frac{\Gamma^{(k)}(1)}{k!}(z-1)^{k},$$
valid for $|z-1| < 1$. In particular
$$\Gamma(z) = \frac{1}{z}-\gamma+\frac{1}{6}\left(3\gamma^2+\frac {\pi^2}2\right)z+O(z^2)$$
I have two questions here
- for the first equation, since $\Gamma(1)=1$, why there is a $\Gamma^{(k)}(1)$?
- for the second equation, what is $\gamma$?
Best Answer
(i) Recall the Taylor series at a point $x=a$
$$ f(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{f^{(n)}(a)}{n!}(x-a)^n .$$
(ii) It is the Euler constant