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Factorial Calculator Calculate the factorial of any number (n!) with digit count and expansion.

Factorial Calculator illustration
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Factorial Calculator

Calculate the factorial of any number (n!) with digit count and expansion.

1

Enter a Number

Input a non-negative integer (up to 1000) to calculate its factorial.

2

View the Result

See n! displayed in full, along with the total number of digits in the result.

3

Check Expansion

For smaller numbers, view the complete multiplication expansion (e.g., 5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120).

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What Is Factorial Calculator?

The factorial of a non-negative integer n, denoted n!, is the product of all positive integers from 1 to n. For example, 5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120. By convention, 0! = 1 (the empty product). Factorials grow extremely rapidly — 20! already exceeds 2.4 quintillion, and 100! has 158 digits. Factorials are foundational in combinatorics for counting arrangements (permutations) and selections (combinations), in probability theory, in Taylor series expansions of functions like e^x and sin(x), and in algorithm analysis. This calculator uses BigInt arithmetic to compute exact factorials up to 1000!, producing results with thousands of digits without any rounding or approximation. It also shows the digit count and, for smaller values, the complete multiplication expansion for educational reference.

Why Use Factorial Calculator?

  • Computes exact factorials up to 1000! using BigInt precision
  • Shows the total digit count of the result
  • Displays the multiplication expansion for learning
  • No overflow issues — works beyond standard number limits
  • Instant calculation even for very large factorials

Common Use Cases

Combinatorics

Calculate permutations and combinations that involve factorial expressions.

Probability

Compute probabilities involving arrangements, such as the birthday problem or lottery odds.

Mathematics Education

Demonstrate how quickly factorials grow and verify homework answers.

Algorithm Analysis

Understand the scale of O(n!) algorithms in computer science.

Technical Guide

The factorial function is defined recursively as n! = n × (n−1)! with the base case 0! = 1. This calculator uses an iterative approach with JavaScript BigInt to avoid stack overflow and maintain exact integer precision. BigInt allows arbitrarily large integers, so 1000! (which has 2,568 digits) is computed exactly without floating-point rounding. The computation is a simple loop: start with result = 1 and multiply by each integer from 2 to n. Time complexity is O(n) multiplications, but each multiplication involves increasingly large numbers, so actual time grows faster in practice. Stirling's approximation (n! ≈ √(2πn) × (n/e)^n) can estimate factorial magnitude: the number of digits in n! is approximately n×log10(n/e) + 0.5×log10(2πn). The calculator caps input at 1000 to maintain reasonable browser performance, though BigInt could theoretically handle larger values.

Tips & Best Practices

  • 1
    0! = 1 by definition (the empty product convention)
  • 2
    Factorials grow incredibly fast — 20! is already over 2 quintillion
  • 3
    The number of digits in n! is approximately n×log₁₀(n) − n×log₁₀(e) + 0.5×log₁₀(2πn)
  • 4
    Factorials are only defined for non-negative integers; the gamma function generalizes to all numbers
  • 5
    For combinations, you can often cancel factorials before multiplying to keep numbers manageable

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q Why does 0! equal 1?
By mathematical convention, the product of an empty set of numbers is 1 (the multiplicative identity). This makes formulas involving factorials work correctly, such as C(n,0) = n! / (0! × n!) = 1.
Q How large can the input be?
This calculator supports inputs up to 1000. The result of 1000! has 2,568 digits and is computed instantly using BigInt arithmetic.
Q Are factorials defined for negative numbers?
No, the factorial function is defined only for non-negative integers. The gamma function Γ(n) = (n−1)! extends the concept to non-integers and negative non-integers.
Q Why do factorials grow so fast?
Each step multiplies by an increasingly large number. While 10! = 3,628,800, just 10 more gives 20! = 2,432,902,008,176,640,000. This super-exponential growth makes n! larger than any exponential function eventually.
Q What are factorials used for?
Factorials count the number of ways to arrange n objects (permutations). They appear in probability, combinatorics, Taylor series, and algorithm analysis.

About This Tool

Factorial Calculator is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.