Factorial – How to Find the Factorial of a Decimal or Negative Number and Its Implications

factorial

I know that you can find the factorial of positive integers where n!= n(n-1)…2 x 1. However, what if you want to find the factorial of a negative integer or a decimal? I tried to do it on my calculator and it gave an answer however, I wasn't able to understand how they calculator got the answers.

I did some research and came across the gamma function which supposedly allowed you to solve such questions. However, I found it very hard to understand and still don't see the purpose of finding the factorial of a negative integers or decimals.

Help would be appreciated.

Thank you 🙂

Best Answer

The factorial function is extended by the $\Gamma$ function. The relation is $$(n-1)! = \Gamma(n) = \int_0^\infty t^{n-1} e^{-t}\, dt$$ This can be analytically continued as a meromorphic function in the complex plane. Ref: John Conway's book on Complex Analysis.