factorial

Pronunciation key ( fak-tôr′i-əl ) ( fak-tō′ri-əl ) ( fak·tôr′ē·əl )

fac•to•ri•al

adj.

1. of, pertaining to, or being a factor.
2. (Obs./ Rare) of a factory.

n.

1. in mathematics, of factors or factorials.
2. Product of all consecutive series of positive (whole numbers) integers beginning at one (1) to integer n.
   Example:
• The factorial of 5 is 1x2x3x4x5, or 120
• The factorial of 4, which is expressed as 4! or is 24.

See factor.

References

Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955

Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary, Comprehensive International Edition, ©1976

Merriam-Webster Dictionary & Thesaurus, ©2004

Calculating Factorials with a Recursive CTE