Factorial: meaning, definitions and examples
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factorial
[ fækˈtɔːriəl ]
mathematics
The product of an integer and all the integers below it; e.g., factorial four ( 4! ) is equal to 24 (4 × 3 × 2 × 1).
Synonyms
factorialize.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| factorial |
As a noun, 'factorial' can also describe something related to a mathematical factorial in more general terms.
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| factorialize |
This verb means to compute the factorial of a number. This term is often used in programming and computer science contexts.
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Examples of usage
- The factorial function is commonly used in mathematics.
- To calculate the factorial of a number, you multiply that number by all the positive integers less than it.
computing
A recursive function or algorithm that calculates the product of all positive integers up to a given number.
Synonyms
factorialize.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| factorial |
Used in mathematics to describe the product of all positive integers up to a specified number.
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Examples of usage
- The factorial algorithm is often used in programming for various computations.
- In computer science, understanding how to implement the factorial function efficiently is important.
Translations
Translations of the word "factorial" in other languages:
🇵🇹 fatorial
🇮🇳 फैक्टोरियल
🇩🇪 Fakultät
🇮🇩 faktorial
🇺🇦 факторіал
🇵🇱 silnia
🇯🇵 階乗 (kaijō)
🇫🇷 factorielle
🇪🇸 factorial
🇹🇷 faktöriyel
🇰🇷 팩토리얼 (paektorial)
🇸🇦 عاملي
🇨🇿 faktoriál
🇸🇰 faktoriál
🇨🇳 阶乘 (jiē chéng)
🇸🇮 faktorial
🇮🇸 stuðull
🇰🇿 факториал
🇬🇪 ფაქტორიალი
🇦🇿 faktorial
🇲🇽 factorial
Etymology
The term 'factorial' was introduced by Christian Kramp in 1808. The concept of factorial has been fundamental in mathematics and computing, providing a way to calculate permutations and combinations. It has applications in various fields such as probability, statistics, and number theory.
See also: factorable, factorizable, factorize, factors.