(definition)
Definition: For large values of n, n! ≈ (n/e)n √(2nπ).
See also factorial, gamma function.
Note: This approximation is taken directly from Stirling's formula.
Author: PEB
See Eric W. Weisstein, Stirling's Approximation for a derivation and other approximations. A slightly different approximation and relative errors.
If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please get in touch with Paul E. Black.
Entry modified 7 May 2007.
HTML page formatted Mon May 7 08:30:32 2007.
Cite this as:
Paul E. Black, "Stirling's approximation", in
Dictionary of Algorithms and Data
Structures [online], Paul E. Black, ed.,
U.S. National Institute of
Standards and Technology. 7 May 2007. (accessed TODAY)
Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/stirlingsApproximation.html
