# Derivative of the Gamma Function

Problem 1. Differentiate the gamma function $\Gamma(n) = \int _{ 0 }^{ \infty }{ { t }^{ n-1 }{ e }^{ -t } } dt.$

Solution

We begin with the integral definition of the Gamma function $\lim _{ x\rightarrow \infty }{ \int _{ 0 }^{ x }{ { e }^{ -t }{ t }^{ n-1 } } dt } .$

To differentiate under the integral, we use Leibniz Rule .

First we find $\frac{\partial f}{\partial n} = {t}^{n-1}{e}^{-t} ln\left(t\right).$

Then we evaluate the limit

\begin{aligned} \Gamma '(n,t) &= \lim _{ x\rightarrow \infty }{ \left[\int _{ 0 }^{ x }{{t}^{n-1}(ln t){e}^{-t}} dt - { x }^{ n-1 }{ e }^{-x} - 0 \right] } \\ &= \lim _{ x\rightarrow \infty }{ \left[\int _{ 0 }^{ x }{{t}^{n-1}(ln t){e}^{-t}} dt - { x }^{ n-1 }{ e }^{-x}\right] } \\ &= \int _{ 0 }^{ \infty }{ { e }^{ -t }{ t }^{ n-1 } ln\left(t\right)} dt . \end{aligned}

Problem 2. Show that ${\Gamma}^{'} (1) = -\gamma$ where $\gamma$ is the Euler-Mascheroni constant.

Solution

To evaluate ${\Gamma}^{'} (1)$, we set $n=1$ thus $\int _{ 0 }^{ \infty }{ { e }^{ -t }ln\left(t\right)} dt .$

We replace ${e}^{-t}$ with $\lim _{ n\rightarrow \infty }{ \left(1-\frac{t}{n} \right)^{n} } .$

Let $s = 1 - \frac{t}{n}$ and $-nds = dt,$ we get \begin{aligned} \lim _{ n\rightarrow \infty }{ \left[ \int _{ 1}^{ 0}{ { s }^{ n } } \left[ ln(n)+ln(1-s) \right] (-n)ds \right] } \\ &= \lim _{ n\rightarrow \infty }{ \left[ nln(n)\int _{ 0 }^{ 1 }{ { s }^{ n } } ds+\int _{ 0 }^{ 1 }{ { s }^{ n } } ln(1-s)ds \right] } \\ &=\lim _{ n\rightarrow \infty }{ \left[ \frac { n }{ n+1 } ln(n)+\frac { -1 }{ n+1 } \int _{ 0 }^{ 1 }{ \frac { { s }^{ n+1 }-1 }{ s-1 } } ds \right] } \\ &=\lim _{ n\rightarrow \infty }{\frac { n }{ n+1 } \left[ ln(n)-{ H }_{ n+1 } \right]} . \end{aligned}

${H}_{n+1}$ is the harmonic number. By definition $\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}{\left[{ H }_{ n+1 } -ln(n)\right]}$ is the Euler-Mascheroni constant; therefore, ${\Gamma}^{'} (1) = -\gamma$.

Check out my other notes at Proof, Disproof, and Derivation

Note by Steven Zheng
6 years, 3 months ago

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Hello, How did you integrate $\int_0^1 s^n ln(1-s)ds?$

- 1 year, 9 months ago

Why would you write $\Gamma(n,t)$ ? the $t$ is a dummy variable.

- 6 years, 2 months ago

We don't?

- 6 years, 2 months ago

@Steven Zheng Yes, you probably got mixed up with the incomplete gamma function.

- 6 years, 2 months ago

In the end, the function is only a function of n, and not t. Like Mr./Ms. Haroun said, it's a dummy variable.

- 1 year, 4 months ago