# Possible new definition of Gamma (Euler-Mascheroni Constant): $\lim_{x \to 0} (-\ln ( \sqrt[x]{x!} )) = \gamma$

I think I've discovered a new definition for the Euler-Mascheroni Constant (Gamma)

I can't find it online anywhere, has anyone seen it before?

$$\lim_{x \to 0} (-\ln ( \sqrt[x]{x!} )) = \gamma$$

• This is essentially the fact that $-\gamma = \Gamma'(1)$. – lhf Oct 1 '14 at 2:09
• Your limit is the definition of $-\psi_0(1)$, which is $(48)$ on MathWorld. – whacka Oct 1 '14 at 2:09
• Here is a post proving @lhf's approach. – Lucian Oct 1 '14 at 3:04

Write $$\ln ( \sqrt[x]{x!} ) = \ln ({x!}^{1/x} ) = \frac{\ln ({x!})}{x} = \frac{\ln (\Gamma(x+1))}{x} = \frac{f(x)-f(0)}{x-0}$$ for $$f(x)= \ln (\Gamma(x+1))$$ Then $$\lim_{x \to 0} \ln ( \sqrt[x]{x!}) = f'(0)$$ Now $$f'(x)= \frac{\Gamma'(x+1)}{\Gamma(x+1)}$$ and so $$f'(0) = \frac{\Gamma'(1)}{\Gamma(1)} = \Gamma'(1) = -\gamma$$ The last equality is the only difficult part, but it is a standard fact.

The Limit

The recurrence $\Gamma(x+1)=x\Gamma(x)$ gives us that \begin{align} \left(\frac{\Gamma(x+n+1)}{\Gamma(n+1)}\right)^{1/x} &=\Gamma(x+1)^{1/x}\left(\frac{(x+1)(x+2)\cdots(x+n)}{n!}\right)^{1/x}\\ &=\Gamma(x+1)^{1/x}\left(1+\frac x1\right)^{1/x}\left(1+\frac x2\right)^{1/x}\cdots\left(1+\frac xn\right)^{1/x}\tag{1} \end{align} As shown below, the log-convexity of $\Gamma(x)$ guarantees that $$(n+x)^x<\frac{\Gamma(x+n+1)}{\Gamma(n+1)}<(n+1)^x\tag{2}$$ Combining $(1)$ and $(2)$ gives $$1\lt\lim_{x\to0}\Gamma(x+1)^{1/x}e^{H_n-\log(n)}\lt 1+\frac1n\tag{3}$$ Because $n$ is arbitrary, the Squeeze Theorem yields $$\lim_{x\to0}\Gamma(x+1)^{1/x}=e^{-\gamma}\tag{4}$$ which is a restatement of the question.

Log-Convexity of $\,\boldsymbol{\Gamma(x)}$

Since $\Gamma(x)$ is log-convex, we have \begin{align} \Gamma(x+n+1) &\le\Gamma(n+1)^{1-x}\Gamma(n+2)^x\\ &=\Gamma(n+1)^{1-x}[(n+1)\Gamma(n+1)]^x\\ &=\Gamma(n+1)(n+1)^x\tag{5} \end{align} and \begin{align} \Gamma(n+1) &\le\Gamma(x+n)^x\Gamma(x+n+1)^{1-x}\\ &=\left[\frac{\Gamma(x+n+1)}{n+x}\right]^x\Gamma(x+n+1)^{1-x}\\ &=\Gamma(x+n+1)(n+x)^{-x}\tag{6} \end{align} Combining $(5)$ and $(6)$ yields $(2)$.

More in general we have

$${a}^{-1}b\,\lim _{x\rightarrow 0}(-\ln \left( \left( \left( a\,x \right) ! \right) ^{{\frac {1}{b\,x}}} \right)) =\gamma$$

• while this is true, it would be nice to give some explanation. – robjohn Oct 1 '14 at 5:25