factorial

noun

1. 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.

   “The expression #123;#125;#95;nC#95;r means the number of combinations of n things taken r at a time. It is also written #92;binomnr, and is equal to#92;frac#123;n(n-1)(n-2)(n-3)#92;cdots#92;cdots(n-r#43;1)#125;#123;r#33;#125;or n#33;#47;r#33;(n-r)#33;, in which r#33; is read "factorial r" and denotes the product of all the integral numbers from 1 to r inclusive.”

   “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#92;prod#95;#123;k#61;1#125;ⁿk#61;1#92;cdot 2#92;cdot 3#92;cdotsn.But what does this equal? Well, of course we can say that it is equal to n factorial and write#92;prod#95;#123;k#61;1#125;ⁿk#61;n#33; and then use our calculators, but inventing a new symbol like 'factorial' feels like an admission of defeat!”

adj

1. Of or pertaining to a factor or factorial.

   “I shall denote, as usual, the factorial product of the numbers up to n by n#33;, but I have found it necessary to introduce a separate notation for the products of successive even or odd numbers. I consequently definen#33;#33;#61;n#92;cdot(n-2)#33;#33;.Starting with1#33;#33;#61;1,#92;quad 2#33;#33;#61;2,it follows that, for positive values of n,n#33;#33;#61;n#92;cdotn-2#92;cdotn-4#92;cdots,where the last factor is either 1 or 2, according as n is odd or even.”

   “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 n#33; for n#92;in#92;mathbbN by the following two properties, (i) 1#33; is defined to be 1, (ii) for all k#92;in#92;mathbbN, we define (k#43;1)#33; to be (k#43;1)#92;timesk#33;.”

2. Of or pertaining to a factor, a kind of business agent.

   “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.”

3. (dated)Of or pertaining to a factory.