Is there a closed form for $\prod_{1 \leq i < j \leq k} (j - i)$? It looks like something like a determinant of a Vandermonde matrix, but I can't seem to get it to fit.
Closed form for \prod_{1 \leq i < j \leq k} (j - i)?
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linear-algebra
polynomials
closed-form
products
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0I'm lazy to do this. Try to evaluate this expression for few values of $k$ say $k = 1,2,\ldots,10$. May be we can see a pattern? – 2012-02-26
2 Answers
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Indeed, the square of this quantity is the discriminant of the polynomial whose roots are the integers from 1 to $k$, so your observation that this is the determinant of a Vandermonde matrix is correct. None of the below are close forms, but here are two alternative formulas that may (or may not) be helpful: $\prod_{1\leq i < j \leq k}(j-i)=\prod_{n=1}^{k-1} n!=\prod_{n=1}^{k-1}n^{k-n}$
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0@draks No no! Indeed $\displaystyle\prod_{n=1}^{k-1} n!=\displaystyle\prod_{n=1}^{k-1}n^{k-n}$. I'm just answering OP's question whether a closed form exists. – 2012-02-26
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You won't find a closed form, but you will find many references at http://oeis.org/A000178.