factorial
English edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
factorial (plural factorials)
- (mathematics, combinatorics) The result of multiplying a given number of consecutive integers from 1 to the given number. In equations, it is symbolized by an exclamation mark (!). For example, 5! = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 = 120.
- 1916 July, M. Mott-Smith, “The Arithmetical Pyramid of Many Dimensions”, in The Monist, volume 26, number 3, , page 428:
- The expression means the number of combinations of things taken at a time. It is also written , and is equal to
- 2018 September, Colin Foster, “What is the formula for factorial?”, in Mathematics in School[1], volume 47, number 4, page 40:
- This playing around with consecutive integers reminded one of the students of factorials, and he asked about products of integers, which I said could be expressed similarly as
Well, of course we can say that it is equal to factorial and write
Usage notes edit
"n!" is read as "factorial of n" or "n factorial."
Hyponyms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
mathematical operation or its result
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Adjective edit
factorial (comparative more factorial, superlative most factorial)
- (mathematics) Of or pertaining to a factor or factorial.
- 1903, Arthur Schuster, “On some Definite Integrals, and a New Method of Reducing a Function of Spherical Co-ordintes to a Series of Spherical Harmonics”, in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, volume 200, , →JSTOR, page 182:
- I shall denote, as usual, the factorial product of the numbers up to by , but I have found it necessary to introduce a separate notation for the products of successive even or odd numbers. I consequently define
- 1995, K. E. Hirst, Numbers, Sequences and Series, Butterworth-Heinemann, →ISBN, page 21:
- The definition of addition is an example of definition by induction, sometimes called recursive definition. As another example of this, consider the following inductive definition of the factorial function.
We define for by the following two properties,
(i) is defined to be ,
(ii) for all , we define to be .
- Of or pertaining to a factor, a kind of business agent.
- 2004, The Digest: Annotated British, Commonwealth, and European Cases:
- The latter sold the goods to a customer who was cashier to certain creditors of the agents without disclosing the factorial capacity in which they acted.
- (dated) Of or pertaining to a factory.
Derived terms edit
See also edit
References edit
Further reading edit
- “factorial”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “factorial”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Portuguese edit
Noun edit
factorial m (plural factoriais)
- Pre-reform spelling (until Brazil 1943/Portugal 1990) of fatorial. Still used in countries where the agreement hasn't come into effect; may occur as a sporadic misspelling.
Adjective edit
factorial m or f (plural factoriais)
- Pre-reform spelling (until Brazil 1943/Portugal 1990) of fatorial. Still used in countries where the agreement hasn't come into effect; may occur as a sporadic misspelling.
Romanian edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from French factorielle.
Adjective edit
factorial m or n (feminine singular factorială, masculine plural factoriali, feminine and neuter plural factoriale)
Declension edit
Declension of factorial
singular | plural | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | neuter | feminine | masculine | neuter | feminine | ||
nominative/ accusative |
indefinite | factorial | factorială | factoriali | factoriale | ||
definite | factorialul | factoriala | factorialii | factorialele | |||
genitive/ dative |
indefinite | factorial | factoriale | factoriali | factoriale | ||
definite | factorialului | factorialei | factorialilor | factorialelor |
Spanish edit
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
factorial m or f (masculine and feminine plural factoriales)
Derived terms edit
Noun edit
factorial m (plural factoriales)
Further reading edit
- “factorial”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014