English

Transcendence Results for $\Gamma^{(n)}(1)$ and Related Sequences of Generalized Constants

Number Theory 2026-04-14 v7 Probability

Abstract

Neither the Euler-Mascheroni constant, γ=0.577215...\gamma=0.577215..., nor the Euler-Gompertz constant, δ=0.596347...\delta=0.596347..., is currently known to be irrational. However, it has been proved that at least one of them is transcendental. The two constants are related through a well-known equation of Hardy, equivalent to γ+δ/e=Ein(1)\gamma+\delta/e=\textrm{Ein}(1), which recently has been generalized to γ(n)+δ(n)/e=η(n),n0\gamma^{(n)}+\delta^{(n)}/e=\eta^{(n)},\:n\geq0 for sequences of constants γ(n)\gamma^{(n)}, δ(n)\delta^{(n)}, and η(n)\eta^{(n)} (derived respectively from raw, conditional, and partial moments of the Gumbel(0,1)\textrm{Gumbel}(0,1) probability distribution). Investigating γ(n)=(1)nΓ(n)(1),n1\gamma^{(n)}=(-1)^{n}\Gamma^{(n)}(1),\:n\geq1 through Gumbel(0,1)\textrm{Gumbel}(0,1) generating functions, we find that γ(2n)Q[γ,γ(2)\gamma^{(2n)}\in\mathbb{Q}[\gamma,\gamma^{(2)}, γ(3),...,γ(2n1)]\gamma^{(3)},...,\gamma^{(2n-1)}] for n2n\geq2 and γ(n)\gamma^{(n)} is transcendental infinitely often. We then show, via a theorem of Shidlovskii, that the η(n)\eta^{(n)} are algebraically independent, and therefore transcendental, for all n0n\geq0, implying that at least one element of each pair, {γ(n),δ(n)/e}\left\{\gamma^{(n)},\delta^{(n)}/e\right\} and {γ(n),δ(n)}\left\{\gamma^{(n)},\delta^{(n)}\right\}, and at least two elements of the triple {γ(n),δ(n)/e,δ(n)}\left\{\gamma^{(n)},\delta^{(n)}/e,\delta^{(n)}\right\} are transcendental for all n1n\geq1. Further analysis of the γ(n)\gamma^{(n)} and η(n)\eta^{(n)} reveals that both the δ(n)/e\delta^{(n)}/e and δ(n)\delta^{(n)} are transcendental infinitely often with lower asymptotic densities of at least 1/2. Finally, we provide parallel results for the sequences δ~(n)\widetilde{\delta}^{(n)} and η~(n)\widetilde{\eta}^{(n)} satisfying the "non-alternating analogue" equation γ(n)+δ~(n)/e=η~(n)\gamma^{(n)}+\widetilde{\delta}^{(n)}/e=\widetilde{\eta}^{(n)}.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2511.01849,
  title  = {Transcendence Results for $\Gamma^{(n)}(1)$ and Related Sequences of Generalized Constants},
  author = {Michael R. Powers},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2511.01849},
  year   = {2026}
}