a formula giving the approximate value of the factorial of a large number n, as n! (n/e)n√(2πn)
Word origin
named after James Stirling (1692–1770), Scottish mathematician
Stirling's formula in American English
(ˈstɜːrlɪŋz)
noun
Math
a relation that approximates the value of n factorial (n!), expressed as (n/e)n√(2πn)
Word origin
[1925–30; after James Stirling (d. 1770), Scottish mathematician]This word is first recorded in the period 1925–30. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Nazi, distinctive feature, hot spot, off-line, payload