The asymptotic expansion for n! and the Lagrange inversion formula

Abstract

We obtain an explicit simple formula for the coefficients of the asymptotic expansion for the factorial of a natural number, $$n!=n^n\sqrt{2\pi n}\mbox{e}^{-n}\biggl\{1+\frac{a_1}{n}+\frac{a_2}{n^2}+\frac{a_3}{n^3}+\cdots\biggr\},$$ in terms of derivatives of powers of an elementary function that we call normalized left truncated exponential function. The unique explicit expression for the a k that appears to be known is that of Comtet in (Advanced Combinatorics, Reidel, 1974), which is given in terms of sums of associated Stirling numbers of the first kind. By considering the bivariate generating function of the associated Stirling numbers of the second kind, another expression for the coefficients in terms of them follows also from our analysis. Comparison with Comtet’s expression yields an identity which is somehow unexpected if considering the combinatorial meaning of the terms. It suggests by analogy another possible formula for the coefficients, in terms of a normalized left truncated logarithm, that in fact proves to be true. The resulting coefficients, as well as the first ones are identified via the Lagrange inversion formula as the odd coefficients of the inverse of a pair of formal series. This in particular leads to the identification of a couple of simple implicit equations, which permits us to obtain also some recurrences related to the a k ’s.