A Turán-type inequality for the gamma function (Q2517692): Difference between revisions

This article establishes the Turán-type inequality [see \textit{P. Turán}, Čas. Mat. Fys. 75, 113--122 (1950; Zbl 0040.32303)] for the derivatives of the standard Euler gamma function \(\Gamma(x)=\int_0^\infty e^{-t}t^{x-1}\,dt\) in the form \[ \Delta_n(x)\equiv \Gamma^{(n-1)}(x)\Gamma^{(n+1)}(x)-(\Gamma^{(n)}(x))^2\geq 0, \] for odd integers \(n\geq 1\) and \(x>0\). It is shown in fact that \(\Delta_n(x)\geq \alpha\), where \[ \alpha=\min_{1.5\leq x\leq 2}\Gamma(x)^2\psi'(x)=0.6359\ldots \] and \(\psi(x)=\Gamma'(x)/\Gamma(x)\) is the psi function. The proof of this result relies on several properties of the psi function and its derivatives. The authors also establish that there is no upper bound for \(\Delta_n(x)\) valid for \(x>0\) and odd integer \(n\geq 1\). They conjecture that there is no real number \(c\) such that \(\Delta_n(x)\geq c\) for all even \(n\geq 2\) and \(x>0\).