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It seems as if no one has asked this here before, unless I don't know how to search.

The Gamma function is $$ \Gamma(\alpha)=\int_0^\infty x^{\alpha-1} e^{-x}\,dx. $$ Why is $$ \Gamma\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\pi}\ ? $$ (I'll post my own answer, but I know there are many ways to show this, so post your own!)

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    Possible duplicate: http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/9286/proving-int-0-infty-e-x2-dx-frac-sqrt-pi22012-10-20
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    @Argon Did you look at the other question? It's not even close to the same thing. And, how on earth did 2 other people vote to close without even looking at it?2012-10-20
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    @Graphth With a simply change of variables ($x^2 = t$), the integrals are virtually identical, except for a constant coefficient.2012-10-20
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    Maybe not that question, but I am quite sure this has been asked before...2012-10-21
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    http://www.math.uconn.edu/~kconrad/blurbs/.../gaussianintegral.pdf is a good source of methods to solve this.2013-03-17

11 Answers 11

47

We only need Euler's formula:

$$\Gamma(1-z) \Gamma(z) = \frac{\pi}{\sin \pi z} \Longrightarrow \Gamma^2\left(\frac{1}{2}\right ) = \pi $$

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    @DonAntonio , Have you any source which prove Euler's formula which you have used ?2013-08-20
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    @MathsLover, there must be thousands as that is a rather well known formula (Euler's Reflection Formula). Check the following: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_function , http://mathworld.wolfram.com/GammaFunction.html (41) , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflection_formula , http://planetmath.org/eulerreflectionformula , http://aw.twi.tudelft.nl/~koekoek/documents/wi4006/gammabeta.pdf (formula 18, page 7) , etc.2013-08-20
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    Euler's formula is much more advanced than evaluating $\Gamma(1/2)$.2014-11-22
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    @Matt Stun Please be way more careful before you attempt to edit someone else's **answer** : no square root is necessary in the last expression !2017-05-23
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    @FawzyHegab: There is a local (MSE) proof of Euler's Reflection Formula in [this answer](https://math.stackexchange.com/a/176216).2017-05-23
44

One can use the trick with spherical coordinates: $$ \Gamma\left(\frac{1}{2}\right) = \int_0^\infty \mathrm{e}^{-x} \frac{\mathrm{d} x}{\sqrt{x}} = \int_0^\infty \mathrm{e}^{-x} \mathrm{d} (2 \sqrt{x}) = \int_{-\infty}^\infty \mathrm{e}^{-u^2} \, \mathrm{d} u $$ Then: $$ \Gamma\left(\frac{1}{2}\right) \Gamma\left(\frac{1}{2}\right) = \int_{-\infty}^\infty \int_{-\infty}^\infty \mathrm{e}^{-x^2} \mathrm{e}^{-y^2} \, \mathrm{d}x \, \mathrm{d} y = \underbrace{\int_0^\infty r \mathrm{e}^{-r^2} \, \mathrm{d} r}_{\frac{1}{2}} \cdot \underbrace{\int_{0}^{2\pi} \, \mathrm{d} \phi}_{2 \pi} = \pi $$

Alternatively one can use the second Euler's integral: $$ \frac{\Gamma\left(\frac{1}{2}\right) \Gamma\left(\frac{1}{2}\right) }{\Gamma(1)} = \int_0^1 t^{-1/2} (1-t)^{-1/2} \mathrm{d}t = \int_0^1 \mathrm{d} \left(2\arcsin\left(\sqrt{t}\right)\right) = \pi $$ Now, using $\Gamma(1) = 1$ the result follows.

Yet another method is to use the duplication identity: $$ \Gamma(2s) = \frac{2^{2s-1}}{\sqrt{\pi}} \Gamma(s) \Gamma\left(s+\frac{1}{2}\right) $$ at $ s= \frac{1}{2}$.

20

Method 1: $$\Gamma(1/2) = \int_0^{\infty} x^{-1/2} \exp(-x) dx$$ Set $x = t^2$, to get $$\Gamma(1/2) = \int_0^{\infty} 2\exp(-t^2) dt = \sqrt{\pi}$$

Method 2: $$\beta(x,y) = \dfrac{\Gamma(x) \Gamma(y)}{\Gamma(x+y)}$$ Take $y=x=1/2$, to get $$\beta(1/2,1/2) = \dfrac{\Gamma^2(1/2)}{\Gamma(1)} \implies \Gamma(1/2) = \sqrt{\beta(1/2,1/2)}$$

$$\beta(x,y) = 2 \int_0^{\pi/2} \sin^{2x-1}(\theta) \cos^{2y-1}(\theta) d \theta$$ Hence, $$\beta(1/2,1/2) = 2 \int_0^{\pi/2} d \theta = \pi$$ $$\Gamma(1/2) = \sqrt{\pi}$$

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    Sorry for my ignorance, but how did $\frac 1 t$ become 2 in method 1?2015-06-23
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    @Hassan dx = 2t dt ; this term cancels out 1/t and leaves 2.2015-10-25
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If there's any justice in the universe, someone must have asked here how to show that $$ \int_{-\infty}^\infty e^{-x^2/2}\,dx = \sqrt{2\pi}. $$ Let's suppose that has been answered here. Let (capital) $X$ be a random variable whose probability distribution is $$ \frac{e^{-x^2/2}}{\sqrt{2\pi}}\,dx. $$ Consider the problem of finding $\operatorname{E}(X^2)$. It is $$ \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}}\int_{-\infty}^\infty x^2 e^{-x^2/2}\,dx = \text{(by symmetry)} \frac{2}{\sqrt{2\pi}} \int_0^\infty x^2 e^{-x^2/2}\,dx $$ $$ \sqrt{\frac2\pi}\int_0^\infty xe^{-x^2/2}\Big(x\,dx\Big) = \sqrt{\frac2\pi}\int_0^\infty \sqrt{u}\ e^{-u}\,du = \sqrt{\frac2\pi}\ \Gamma\left(\frac32\right) = \frac12\sqrt{\frac2\pi} \Gamma\left(\frac12\right). $$ So it is enough to show that this expected value is $1$. That is true if the sum of two independent copies of it has expected value $2$. So: $$ \Pr\left(X^2+Y^20. $$ So $$ \operatorname{E}(X^2+Y^2) = \int_0^\infty w \frac{e^{-w/2}}{2}\,dw =2. $$

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    If $\int_{-\infty}^\infty e^{-u^2/2}\,du = \sqrt{2\pi}$ is given, then it seems much simpler to take $\Gamma(1/2) = \int_0^{\infty} x^{-1/2} \exp(-x) dx$, substitute $u^2=2x$, and we are done.2013-06-17
15

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned that this $\sqrt{\pi}$ is also "the same one" as the $\sqrt{\pi}$ in Stirling's formula.

It is a known fact that $\Gamma$ is uniquely characterized as the function that satisfies the equation $\Gamma(z+1) = z \Gamma(z)$ and whose logarithm "has nice asymptotics at $+\infty$". The conventional way to explain what "nice asymptotics" should mean in this context involves logarithmic convexity, but I prefer to leave it like this: any function that satisfies that functional equation must coincide with $\Gamma(z)$ up to a periodic factor, which, if nontrivial, would prevent it from having an asymptotic expansion at $+\infty$ in terms of powers and logs.

Now let's turn to Stirling's formula and assume that it holds both for integer and half-integer values of $\Gamma$. Clearly,

$$\Gamma(n+1/2) = \Gamma(1/2) \cdot \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{3}{2} \cdot \dots \cdot \frac{2n-1}{2} = \Gamma(1/2) \cdot \frac{(2n)!}{2^{2n} n!},$$

which is basically the duplication formula. Now if we plug it into the Stirling's formula, we will find out that $\Gamma(1/2) = \sqrt{\pi}$.

10

It also follows from the famous Riemann functional equation with $s=1/2$: $$ \zeta(s) = 2^s\pi^{s-1}\ \sin\left(\frac{\pi s}{2}\right)\ \Gamma(1-s)\ \zeta(1-s) $$ but Euler's reflection formula is probably more basic.

10

This is a "proof". We know that the surface area of the $n-1$ dimensional unit sphere is $$ |S^{n-1}| = \frac{2\pi^{\frac{n}2}}{\Gamma(\frac{n}2)}. $$ On the other hand, we know that $|S^2|=4\pi$, which gives $$ 4\pi = \frac{2\pi^{\frac32}}{\Gamma(\frac32)} = \frac{2\pi^{\frac32}}{\frac12\Gamma(\frac12)}. $$

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    This formula also holds for $n = 1$ if you take counting measure as your $0$-dimensional measure.2012-12-23
6

There are a few details missing (showing the integral converges, justifying the differentiation under the integral sign, and so forth), but the main idea should be clear.

Consider the Fourier transform of $f(x)=e^{-x^2}$.

$$\hat f(\xi)= \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{-x^2} e^{-2\pi i x\xi} \ dx =\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{-x^2} (\cos(2\pi x \xi) - i \sin(2\pi x \xi)) dx =\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{-x^2} \cos(2\pi x \xi) \ dx$$

Differentiate under the integral sign and integrate by parts.

$$\hat f'(\xi) =-2\pi \int e^{-x^2}\sin(2\pi \xi x) \ dx = -2\pi^2 \xi \int e^{-x^2} \cos(2\pi x \xi) \ dx = -2\pi^2\xi \hat f(\xi)$$

Separate variables.

$$\frac{\hat f'(\xi)}{\hat f(\xi) }= -2\pi^2 \xi \Rightarrow \hat f(\xi) =Ce^{-\pi^2 \xi^2}.$$

Use the inversion formula and change variables .

$$e^{-x^2} = C\int e^{-\pi^2 \xi^2} \cos(2\pi x \xi) \ d\xi = \frac{C}{\pi} \int e^{- \xi^2} \cos(2 x \xi) \ d\xi $$

$$e^{-\pi^2 x^2}\frac{C}{\pi} =\int e^{- \xi^2} \cos(2 x\pi \xi) \ d\xi =\frac{C^2}{\pi}e^{-\pi^2x^2}\Rightarrow C=\sqrt{\pi}$$

$$\hat f (0) = \sqrt{\pi} = \int e^{-x^2} \cos(0) \ dx = \int e^{-x^2} \ dx.$$

5

$$B\left(\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2}\right)=\frac{\left[\Gamma\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\right]^{2}}{\Gamma{(1)}}=\left[\Gamma\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\right]^{2}$$ $$B\left(\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2}\right)=\frac{\pi}{\sin{\frac{\pi}{2}}}=\pi$$

Chris.

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    For those who find the second line not obvious, here is an elementary explanation: by definition, $B(\frac{3}{2},\frac{3}{2}) = \intop_0^1 x^{1/2} (1-x)^{1/2} dx$, and the graph of $x^{1/2} (1-x)^{1/2}$ is a semicircle, so this directly relates to $\pi$ being defined via the area of the circle. This allows to calculate $\Gamma(\frac{3}{2})$, which is just $\frac{1}{2} \Gamma(\frac{1}{2})$2013-06-16
2

The Gamma function is $$\Gamma(\alpha)=\int_0^\infty x^{\alpha-1} e^{-x}\,dx$$

Therefore

$$\Gamma\left( \frac{1}{2}\right) =\int_0^\infty \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}} e^{-x}\,dx$$

Thus, after the change of variable $t=\sqrt{x}$, this turns into the Euler integral $$t=\sqrt{x} \implies x = t^2$$ $$\frac{dt}{dx} = \frac{1}{2\sqrt{x}} = \frac{1}{2t} \iff dx = 2t\,dt$$

We have $$\int_0^\infty \frac{1}{t} e^{-t^2}\,2t\,dt = 2\int_0^\infty e^{-t^2}\,dt $$

And following holds: $$\Gamma\left( \frac{1}{2}\right) = 2\int_0^\infty e^{-t^2}\,dt = \int_{-\infty}^\infty e^{-t^2}\,dt$$

Which $\int_{-\infty}^\infty e^{-t^2}\,dt$ is the Gaussian integral. It follows:

$$\left[ \Gamma\left( \frac{1}{2}\right)\right]^2 = \bigg(\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} e^{-x^2} dx\bigg)\bigg(\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} e^{-y^2} dy\bigg)$$ $$\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}e^{-(x^2+y^2)} \,dx\,dy$$

Now change to polar coordinates
$$\int_0^{+2 \pi}\int_0^{+\infty}e^{-r^2} r\,dr\,d\theta$$

The $\theta$ integral just gives $2\pi$, while the $r$ integral succumbs to the substitution $u=r^2$
$$\left[ \Gamma\left( \frac{1}{2}\right)\right]^2 = 2\pi\int_{0}^{+\infty}e^{-u} \,du/2=\pi$$ $$\Gamma\left( \frac{1}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\pi}$$

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    You are 5 years late my friend. [Sasha](https://math.stackexchange.com/a/215363/272831) already has this in his/her answer.2017-08-08
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    Rather than computing $\dfrac{dt}{dx}$ and then deducing $2t\,dt=dx$ from that, I would differentiate both sides of $t^2 = x$ to get $2t\,dt = dx. \qquad$2017-08-11
1

By the Bohr-Mollerup theorem,

$$\Gamma(1/2)=\lim_{n\to\infty}\frac{\sqrt n(n!)}{(1/2)(-1/2)\dots(1/2-n)}=\lim_{n\to\infty}\frac{\sqrt n4^{n+1}(n!)^2}{(2n)!(n+\frac12)}$$

Apply the Stirling approximation and watch almost everything simplify!

$$\Gamma(1/2)=\sqrt\pi\lim_{n\to\infty}\frac n{n+\frac12}=\sqrt\pi$$