factorial
UK[fækˈtɔːriəl]US[fækˈtɔːriəl]
adj
relating to or being a factor or a factorial.
n
the product of an integer and all the integers below it, e.g., factorial four (4!) is 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 24.
Morpheme Breakdown
fact
or
ial
fact
make, do
or
noun suffix
ial
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'factorial' originates from the latin root 'facere', meaning 'to do' or 'to make'. this root evolved into the english word 'factor', denoting an agent that makes or does something, specifically in mathematics, a number that divides another. the suffix '-ial' was added to form an adjective, creating 'factorial'. in its mathematical sense, it logically extends from the concept of a 'factor' to describe the product of all the factors (integers) down to one, representing the complete multiplicative 'making' of a number.
Analysis
Structure: fact (make, do) + or (noun suffix) + ial (adjective suffix)
'fact' from latin 'facere' (to make, to do). 'or' a latin-derived agent noun suffix. 'ial' a latin-derived suffix forming adjectives.
Examples
the factorial function is fundamental to combinatorics and probability calculations.
he calculated the factorial of 5 and wrote 5! = 120 on the board.
factorial growth is much faster than exponential growth.