I am working on evaluating the following equation:
$\log\Gamma(\frac{1}{2}x) - \log\Gamma(\frac{1}{3}x)$
If I'm understanding correctly, the above is an increasing function which can be demonstrated by the following argument using the digamma function $\frac{\Gamma'}{\Gamma}(x) = \int_0^\infty(\frac{e^{-t}}{t} - \frac{e^{-xt}}{1-e^{-t}})$:
$\frac{\Gamma'}{\Gamma}(\frac{1}{2}x) - \frac{\Gamma'}{\Gamma'}(\frac{1}{3}x) = \int_0^\infty\frac{1}{1-e^{-t}}(e^{-\frac{1}{3}xt} - e^{-\frac{1}{2}xt})dt > 0 (x > 1)$
Please let me know if this reasoning is incorrect or if you have any corrections.
Thanks very much!
-Larry
This answer is provided with help from J.M.
$\log\Gamma(\frac{1}{2}x) - \log\Gamma(\frac{1}{3}x)$ is an increasing function. This can be shown using this series for $\psi$:
The function is increasing if we can show: $\frac{d}{dx}(\log\Gamma(\frac{1}{2}x) - \log\Gamma(\frac{1}{3}x)) > 0$
We can show this using the digamma function $\psi(x)$:
$$\frac{d}{dx}(\log\Gamma(\frac{1}{2}x) - \log\Gamma(\frac{1}{3}x)) = \frac{\psi(\frac{1}{2}x)}{2} - \frac{\psi(\frac{1}{3}x)}{3}$$
$$\frac{\psi(\frac{1}{2}x)}{2} - \frac{\psi(\frac{1}{3}x)}{3} = -\gamma + \sum_{k=0}^\infty(\frac{1}{k+1} - \frac{1}{k + {\frac{1}{2}}}) + \gamma - \sum_{k=0}^\infty(\frac{1}{k+1} - \frac{1}{k+\frac{1}{3}})$$
$$= \sum_{k=0}^\infty(\frac{1}{k+\frac{1}{3}} - \frac{1}{k+\frac{1}{2}})$$
Since for all $k\ge 0$: $k + \frac{1}{3} < k + \frac{1}{2}$, it follows that for all $k\ge0$: $\frac{1}{k+\frac{1}{3}} > \frac{1}{k+\frac{1}{2}}$ and therefore: $$\sum_{k=0}^\infty(\frac{1}{k+\frac{1}{3}} - \frac{1}{k+\frac{1}{2}}) > 0.$$