R E S E A R C H
Open Access
The monotonicity and convexity of a
function involving psi function with
applications
Bang-Cheng Sun
1,2, Zhi-Ming Liu
1, Qiang Li
1*and Shen-Zhou Zheng
3**Correspondence: [email protected];
1School of Mechanical, Electronic
and Control Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China
3Department of Mathematics,
Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China
Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
Abstract
In this paper, we prove that the function
x→exp
ψ
x+1
2
– 1 24
1 x2+ 7/40
–x
is decreasing from (–1/2,∞) onto (0, 1/2) and convex on (–1/2,∞). As a consequence of the main theorem, various type of bounds for the psi function are presented, which essentially generalize or improve some known results.
MSC: Primary 33B15; 26A48; secondary 11B83; 26D15
Keywords: psi function; harmonic number; inequality
1 Introduction
Forx> , the classical Euler gamma functionand psi (digamma) functionψare defined by
(x) =
∞
tx–e–tdt, ψ(x) =
(x)
(x), (.) respectively. Furthermore, the derivativesψ,ψ,ψ, . . . are known as polygamma func-tions.
As an important role played in many branches, such as mathematical physics, proba-bility, statistics, and engineering, the gamma and polygamma functions have attracted the attention of many scholars. Recently, many authors showed numerous interesting inequal-ities for the digamma (psi) functionψand the Euler constant defined by
γ = lim
n→∞
n
k=
k–lnn
= .· · ·,
wherenk=
k:=Hnis called the harmonic number. In particular, there has many
approx-imation formulas for psi function and harmonic number, which can be found in [–], and closely related references therein.
We would like to mention DeTemple and Wang’s paper [] for half-integer approxima-tion formulas
γ +ln n+
+
(n+ )<Hn<γ+ln n+
+
n (.)
and
γ +ln n+
+ n +
(n+ ) <Hn<γ +ln n+
+ n +
n. (.)
It was also proved in [, ], [], Lemma ., that
ln x+
<ψ(x+ )≤lnx+e–γ (.)
forx> , where ande–γ are the best possible constants, andγ = .· · · is the
Euler-Mascheroni constant. Thanks to formula (.) and the relationHn=γ +ψ(n+ ),
we have
γ +ln n+
<Hn≤γ +ln
n+e–γ– (.)
for anyn∈N. In , Batir [] further proved that
ln
x+x+e–γ≤ψ(x+ ) < ln x
+x+
(.)
for allx> , wheree–γ and / are the best possible. As a direct consequence, he showed
that, forn∈N,
γ + ln
n+n+e–γ – ≤Hn<γ +
ln n
+n+
. (.)
Batir [, ] provided another interesting bound for the psi function:
a–lne/x– <ψ(x) <b–lne/x– , (.) wherex> ,a≤ln, andb≥. Consequently, the double inequality
lnπ
–ln
e/(n+)– <Hn<γ –ln
e/(n+)– (.) for alln∈Nwas attained in Corollary . in []. Later, this inequality was sharpened to
+ln(√e– ) –lne/(n+)– <Hn<γ–ln
e/(n+)– (.) for alln∈Nby Alzer [].
Also, inequalities (.) are equivalent to
a≤eHn+–eHn<b (.)
with the best constantsa=e(√e– )≈. andb=eγ ≈. (see also []). For
a more general result, see [], Theorem .. Similarly, in the context, we call inequalities (.) theAlzer-type ones.
Batir [] further proved some new Batir-type inequalities for the psi functions and harmonic number, in particular,
ln
x+b
e/(x+)– ≤ψ(x+ )≤
ln
x+b
e/(x+)– forx≥
with the best constantsa= andb=e–γ(e– ). This implies that, forn∈N, we have
ln
n+b
e/(n+)– ≤Hn≤
ln
n+b e/(n+)– ,
wherea= andb=e–γ(e– ) – ≈. are the best possible. Obviously, it is
equiv-alent to the double inequalities
eγ(n+ ) <eHn+–eHn≤eγ
(n+ .· · ·).
Clearly, it is an Alzer-type inequality.
On the other hand, Villarino [], Theorem ., proved that the sequence
dn=
ψ(n+ ) –ln(n+ /)– n+
is increasing forn∈N, and meanwhile DeTemple and Wang [] by an approximation argument for the harmonic number showed, forn∈N, the following inequality:
(n+ /)+ /<Hn–ln n+
–γ <
(n+ /)+ /( –ln +ln –γ) –
with the best constants and /( –ln +ln +ψ()) – ≈.. Yanget al.[], Theorem , further showed that the function
x→Fa(x) =
x+aψ(x+ /) –lnx–
is strictly completely monotonic on (,∞) if and only ifa≥/.
Motivated by all these recent papers, the aim of this paper is to investigate the mono-tonicity and convexity of the function related to the psi function and present some new general, Batir-type, and Alzer-type inequalities for the psi function and harmonic number.
2 Preliminaries
Lemma ([], pp.-) Let x> and n∈N.Then
ψ(n)(x+ ) –ψ(n)(x) =(–)
nn!
xn+ . (.)
Lemma ([], pp.-) As x→ ∞,we have
ψ(x)∼lnx– x–
x +
x–
x, (.) ψ(x)∼
x+
x +
x –
x+
x, (.) ψ(x)∼–
x –
x –
x+
x–
x. (.)
Lemma ([]) Let f be a function on an interval I such thatlimx→∞f(x) = .If f(x+ ) –
f(x) > for all x∈(a,∞),then f(x) < .Conversely,if f(x+ ) –f(x) < for all x∈(a,∞),
then f(x) > .
Lemma ([], Lemma ) For n∈Nand m∈N∪{}with n>m,let Pn(t)be a polynomial with n degrees defined by
Pn(t) = n
i=m+
aiti– m
i=
aiti, (.)
where an,am> and ai≥for≤i≤n– with i=m.Then there exists an unique number tm+∈(,∞)satisfying Pn(t) = such that Pn(t) < for t∈(,tm+)and Pn(t) > for t∈
(tm+,∞).
Lemma Let u be the function on(–∞,∞)defined by
u(x) =
x+ . (.)
Then,for x= –/,we have
p(x) = – (x+ /) –u
(x+ ) +u(x) < . (.)
Proof Differentiation leads to
u(x) = –
x
(x+ ). (.)
Factoring gives
p(x) = – (x+ /) +
x+ ((x+ )+ ) –
x
(x+ )
= – (x+ /) –
,x+ ,x+ ,x+ ,x–
Replacingxby (t– /) and factoring, we get
p(x) = –,,t
– ,t+ ,,t– ,t+ ,
t((t– /)+ )((t+ /)+ ) ,
wheret=x+ /.
Note that the numerator of this fraction can be written as
p(t) = ,,t– ,t+ ,,t– ,t+ ,
= ,tt– +,, t
+
t– > , (.)
and the desired result easily follows.
Lemma Let u and p be defined by(.)and(.).Suppose that q and r are defined on
(–/,∞)by
q(x) = (x+ /) –u
(x+ ) +u(x),
r(x) = – (x+ /) –u
(x+ ) –u(x).
Then,for x> –/,we have
S(x) := –
(x+ /) +r(x+ ) +
q(x+ )
p(x+ )–r(x) –
q(x)
p(x)< . (.)
Proof An immediate computation yields
u(x) =
x–
(x+ ). (.)
Then we get
q(x) = (x+ /) –
(x+ )–
((x+ )+ ) +
x–
(x+ ), (.)
r(x) = – (x+ /) +
x+ ((x+ )+ ) +
x
(x+ ). (.)
Substitutingp(x),q(x),r(x) intoS(x) and factoring it give
S(x) = –×
S(x)
S(x)
,
where
S(x) = (x+ )(x+ )
x+ x+ x+
×,,x+ ,,x+ ,,x+ ,,,x
+ ,,,x+ ,,
×,,x+ ,,x+ ,,x+ ,,x
+ ,,x+ ,,x+ ,,x
+ ,,x+ ,, (.)
S(x) = ,,,x+ ,,,x+
,,,, x
+,,,, x
+,,,,,
x
+,,,,, x
+,,,,,
x
+,,,,, x
+,,,,,,
, x
+,,,,,, , x
+,,,,,,
, x
+,,,,,, , x
+,,,,,,
, x
+,,,,,, , x
+,,,,,,
, x
+,,,,,, , x
+,,,,,,
,, x
+,,,,,, ,, x
+,,,,,,
,, x
+,,,,,, ,, x+
,,,,,, ,,, .
We further prove thatS(x),S(x) > forx> –/. In fact, replacingxby (t– /) in (.)
and arranging, we obtain
S(x) = t(t+ )
t– t+ t+ t+
×,,t+ ,,t+ ,,t+ ,,t
+ ,,t+ ,,t+ ,,t+ ,,t
+ ,,×p(t),
wherep(t) is defined by (.), andt=x+ / > . Clearly,S(x) > forx> –/.
Similarly, we have
S(x) =S(t) +tS(t),
where
S(t) = ,,,t+ ,,,t+
,,,, t
+,,,, t
+,,,,
t
+,,,,
t
+,,,,, t
+,,,,
t
+,,,,, , t
+,,,,,
, t
+,,,,, , t
+,,,,
, t
+,,,,, , t
+,,,,
, t
+,,,,, , t
+,,,,,
,, t +,,,,,,
,,, ,
S(t) =
,,,,, , t
–,,,,,
,, t
–,,,, ,, t+
,,,,, ,, .
It is clear thatS(t) > fort=x+ / > . To prove thatS(x) > forx> –/, it suffices to
prove thatS(t) > fort> . In fact, it is easy to check that
S(t) =,,,,, , t
–,,,,,
,, t –,,,,,
,,
has a positive zero pointt∈(/, /) such thatS(t) < fort∈(,t) andS(t) < for
t∈(t,∞). SinceS(),S(∞) > and
S(t) =
,,,,, , t
+
,,,,, ,, – ,,,,,
,, t
+
,,,,, ,, t
>,,,,, ,
+,,,,, ,, – ,,,,,
,,
+,,,,, ,,
=,,,,,, ,,, > ,
so we getS(t) > fort> , which proves thatS(x) > forx> –/ and completes the
proof.
3 Monotonicity and convexity
Theorem The function
x→f(x) =exp ψ x+
–
x+ /
–x
is decreasing from(–/,∞)onto(, /)and convex on(–/,∞).
Proof With (.) in hand,f(x) can be written as
f(x) =eψ(x+/)–u(x)–x.
Differentiation of this formula yields
f(x) =ψ(x+ /) –u(x)eψ(x+/)–u(x)– , (.)
f(x) =ψ
(x+ /) –u(x) + (ψ(x+ /) –u(x))
e–ψ(x+/)+u(x)
:= g(x)
e–ψ(x+/)+u(x). (.)
By (.) this yields
g(x+ ) –g(x)
=ψ(x+ /, ) –u(x+ )+ψ(x+ /, ) –u(x+ ) –ψ(x+ /, ) –u(x) +ψ(x+ /, ) –u(x) =p(x)
ψ(x+ /, ) +r(x) +q(x)
p(x)
:=p(x)h(x), (.)
wherep(x),q(x),r(x) are defined by (.), (.), (.), respectively. Similarly, we get
h(x+ ) –h(x) = –
(x+ /)+r(x+ ) +
q(x+ )
p(x+ )–r(x) –
q(x)
p(x)=S(x).
By Lemma we haveh(x+ ) –h(x) < . It follows fromlimx→∞h(x) = and Lemma that
h(x) >limx→∞h(x) = . Thanks to inequality (.),p(x) < , and Lemma , it follows that
g(x+ ) –g(x) =p(x)h(x) < ,
which implies by Lemma thatg(x) >limx→∞g(x) = . Thus, in combination with (.), this leads tof(x) > , that is,fis convex on (–/,∞), andfis increasing on (–/,∞).
Utilizing the asymptotic formulas (.)-(.), this yields
lim
x→∞f
Therefore, we get thatf(x) <limx→∞f(x) = , which implies thatf(x) is decreasing on
(–/,∞). Moreover, we conclude that
= lim
x→∞f(x) <f(x) <x→lim–/+f(x) =
,
which completes the proof.
Theorem The function
x→f(x) =expψ x+
–xexp
x+ /
is decreasing from(,∞)onto(,e–γ/)and convex on(/,∞).
Proof We have
f(x) =exp
x+ /
exp
ψ x+
–
x+ /
–x
=exp
x+ /
f(x) :=f(x)f(x).
Noting that
f(x) = –
x
(x+ /)exp
x+ /
≤ forx≥,
f(x) = ,
,x+ ,x–
(x+ /) exp
x+ /
> forx≥
, we have
f(x) =f(x)f(x) +f(x)f(x) < forx≥,
f(x) =f(x)f(x) + f(x)f(x) +f(x)f(x) > forx≥
. A simple calculation leads to
lim
x→∞f(x) =x→∞limexp
x+ /
lim
x→∞f(x) = and x→lim+f(x) =
e
–γ
,
which completes the proof.
Theorem Let a≥.Then the function
x→f(x) =ψ x+
–lnx–
x+a
Proof The necessity is obvious; it follows from the inequalitylimx→∞xf
(x)≤. Indeed,
using the asymptotic formulas (.), we have
lim
x→∞x
f (x) =
–
a≤, which yieldsa≥/.
We now are a position to prove the sufficiency. By differentiation we have
f(x) =ψ x+
–
x+
x
(x+a),
f(x) =ψ x+
+
x +
(x+a) –
x
(x+a).
Using (.), we have
f(x+ ) –f(x) =ψ x+
+ (x+ )+
((x+ )+a) –
x
((x+ )+a)
–ψ x+
–
x–
(x+a)+
x
(x+a)
= (x+ /) +
(x+ ) +
((x+ )+a)
–
x
((x+ )+a)–
x–
(x+a) +
x
(x+a)
= – P(x)
x(x+ )(x+a)(x+ )(x+ x+a+ ),
where
P(x) = (a– )x+ (a– )x+ (,a+ ,a– ,)x
+ (,a+ ,a– ,)x+ (,a+ ,a+ ,a– ,)x
+ (,a+ ,a+ ,a– )x
+ (,a+ ,a+ ,a+ ,a– )x
+ (,a+ ,a+ ,a+ a– )x
+ (a+ ,a+ ,a+ ,a+ a– )x
+ (,a+ ,a+ ,a+ a+ a)x
+ (a+ a+ ,a+ a+ a+a)x
+ (a+ a+ a+ a)x+ (a+ a+ a+ a).
It is easy to check that the coefficients of the polynomial P(x) are nonnegative for
a≥/. Then we havef(x+ ) –f(x) < forx> . By Lemma we get thatf(x) >
limx→∞f(x) = , which implies that f(x) is increasing on (,∞). Therefore, f(x) <
4 Inequalities for the psi function and harmonic number
DenoteFi(x) =fi(x+ /) (i= , , ) in Theorems and . Then, sinceFis decreasing,
F() =e–γ–/, andlimx→∞F(x) = /, we get the following conclusion.
Corollary
(i) Forx> –/,we have
ψ(x+ ) >ln x+
+
x+x+ /. (ii) Forx≥,we have
ln x+
+
x+x+ /<ψ(x+ ) <ln(x+α) +
x+x+ /, (.)
where the constants/andα=e–γ–/≈.are the best possible.
Remark Comparing (.) with (.), we find that, forx> ,
ln x+
<ln x+
+
x+x+ /<ψ(x+ )
<ln(x+α) +
x+x+ /<ln
x+e–γ.
In fact, it suffices to show that the last inequality is valid forx> . Let
D(x) =ln(x+α) +
x+x+ /<ln
x+e–γ.
By differentiation we have
D(x) =
x+α
–
x+ (x+x+ /) –
x+β
= D(x)
(x+α)(x+β)(x+ x+ )
,
where
D(x) = ,(e–γ–α)x+ (e–γ – α– )x– (α– e–γ+ )x
– (α– e–γ + αe–γ)x– (α– e–γ + αe–γ)
:=ax+ax+ax+ax+a.
It is easy to check thata,a> anda,a,a< . Then by Lemma we see that there
isx> such thatD(x) < forx∈(,x) andD(x) > forx∈(x,∞). This indicates
thatDis decreasing on (,x) and increasing on (x,∞). Therefore, we conclude that, for
x> ,
D(x) <max
D(),D(∞)
Remark Similarly, we get the following inequalities:
ln
x+x+e–γ<ln x+
+
x+x+ /<ψ(x+ )
< ln x
+x+
<ln(x+α) +
x+x+ /
forx> . A direct computation shows that
lim
x→∞
ψ(x+ ) –ln(x+x+ )
x– = –
, (.)
lim
x→∞
ψ(x+ ) –ln(x+) – x+x+/
x– =
,
,, (.) which implies that the approximation formula of the psi function given in (.) is superior to (.).
SinceF() =e/–γ, by the relationψ(n+ ) =Hn–γ we deduce the following:
Corollary For n∈N,we have
γ +
n+n+ /+ln(n+ /) <Hn<γ+
n+n+ /+ln(n+α),
where/andα=e/–γ≈.are the best possible.
SinceFis decreasing on (–/,∞),limx→∞F(x) = , and
F() =e–γ–
e
/=
β, F() =e
–γ–
e
/=
β, we get the following:
Corollary For x≥,we have
ln x+
+
x+x+ /<ψ(x+ ) <ln x+
+
x+x+ /
+ln
+ β
x+ exp –
x+x+ /
,
whereβ= e–γ–e/≈.is the best constant.
Corollary For n∈N,we have
γ +ln n+
+
n+n+ /<Hn<γ +ln n+
+
n+n+ /
+ln
+ β
n+ exp –
n+n+ /
,
Fora= /, sinceFis decreasing on (–/,∞),limx→∞F(x) = , and
F() =ln –
–γ =δ, F() = –ln
–γ =δ, we deduce the following:
Corollary For x≥,we have
ln x+
+
x+x+ /+δ
∗
<ψ(x+ ) <ln x+
+
x+x+ /+δ,
whereδ∗= andδ=ln – / –γ≈.are the best constants.
Corollary For n∈N,we have
γ+ln n+
+
n+n+ /+δ
∗
<Hn<γ+ln n+
+
n+n+ /+δ,
whereδ∗= andδ= / –ln(/) –γ≈.are the best constants.
From Theorem we can obtain the following Batir-type inequalities for the psi function and harmonic number.
Corollary For x≥,we have
(x+x+ /)–ln
eQ(x)– +c<ψ(x+ ) <
(x+x+ /)–ln
eQ(x)– +c∗
with the best constants c=ln(e,/,– ) – / –γ ≈–.and c∗= ,where
Q(x) =,x
+ ,x+ ,x+ x+ ,
(x+ )(x+ x+ )(x+ x+ ) .
Proof LetG(x) =F(x+ ) –F(x) =f(x+ /) –f(x+ /). Sincefis convex on (–/,∞),
we have
G(x) =f(x+ /) –f(x+ /) =f(x+ / +θ) > ,
which means thatGis increasing on (,∞). Considering
G(x) =exp ψ(x+ ) –
(x+ /)+ /
–exp ψ(x+ ) –
(x+ /)+ /
–
=exp ψ(x+ ) –
(x+ /)+ /
eQ(x)– – ,
G() =exp
–γ
–e – –γ
– and lim
we have
G() <exp ψ(x+ ) –
(x+ /)+ /
eQ(x)– – < ,
which attains the desired inequality. The increasing property ofGand
G() =exp
, ,–γ
–exp
–γ
–
yield a sharp bound of harmonic number.
Corollary For n∈N,we have
γ +
(n+n+ /)–ln
eQ(n)– +c
<Hn<γ +
(n+n+ /)–ln
eQ(n)– +c∗,
where c= / –γ +ln(e,/,– )≈–.and c∗= are the best
con-stants.
Remark Note that sinceψ(n+ ) =Hn–γ,G(n) is written as
G(n) =exp Hn+–γ –
(n+ /)+ /
–exp Hn–γ–
(n+ /)+ /
– .
Then byG()≤G(n) <G(∞) we have the following Alzer-type inequalities:
.≈exp ,
,
–exp
<eHn+–un+–eHn–un<eγ ≈
.,
where
un=
(n+ /)+ /. (.)
Remark Similarly, it is easy to check that
G(x) =F(x+ ) –F(x) =f(x+ /) –f(x+ /)
is increasing on (,∞). Then, from
–.≈ e
/–
e
/+e–γ
we derive other Alzer-type inequalities:
n+
un+– n+
un+d<eHn+–eHn< n+
un+– n+
un+d,
whered= andd= e// – e// +e–γ(e/– )≈–. are the best
con-stants withunas in (.).
Using the increasing property of F, and noting that F(–+) = –, F
() = (π/ +
/)e–γ–/– , andF
(∞) = , we get
π
+
e–γ–/– <ψ(x+ ) –u(x)eψ(x+)–u(x)– < ,
which implies the following:
Corollary
(i) Forx> –,we have
ψ(x+ ) < –
x+ /
(x+x+ /) +exp –ψ(x+ ) +
(x+x+ /)
.
(ii) Forx≥,we have the double inequalities
–
x+ /
(x+x+ /)+λexp –ψ(x+ ) +
(x+x+ /)
<ψ(x+ ) < –
x+ / (x+x+ /)
+λexp –ψ(x+ ) +
(x+x+ /)
,
whereλ= (π/ + /)e–γ–/≈.andλ= are the best constants.
Remark Elezovicet al.[] proved the inequality
ψ(x) <e–ψ(x) (.) forx> . It has been improved by Batir [] as
x+a∗e–ψ(x)<ψ(x+ ) <x+b∗e–ψ(x)
forx> with the best constantsa∗= / andb∗=πe–γ/. The last corollary gives
an-other improvement of (.).
From the proof of Theorem we see thatg(x) > forx> –/, which can be written as the following corollary.
Corollary For x> ,we have
ψ(x) –u(x– /) +ψ(x) –u(x– /)> , (.)
Remark Batir [] showed that, forx> ,
ψ(x)+ψ(x) > . (.) Therefore, inequality (.) can be written as
ψ(x) +ψ(x)>(x), where
(x) = –
x– (x– x+ ) × ψ(x) – ,x
– ,x+ ,x– ,x+ ,
(x– )(x– x+ )
.
Indeed, this result is optimal due to
ψ(x) –
(x– /)–
((x– /)+ ) + ψ
(x) +
(x– /) ((x– /)+ )
=ψ(x) +ψ(x)–
(x– x+ )(x),
where
(x) = –(x– )ψ(x) +,x
– ,x+ ,x– ,x+ ,
(x– x+ ) .
A numeric computation shows that(x) > for <x< / andx> /, and so inequality (.) is better than (.).
From the inequalitiesf(x) < andf(x) > on (,∞) fora= /, which are given in the proof of Theorem , we have the following:
Corollary For x> ,we have the following inequalities:
ψ x+
<
,x+ ,x+
x(x+ ) , ψ x+
> –
,x+ ,x+ ,x+ ,
x(x+ ) ,
ψ x+
< ,,x
+ ,x+ ,x+ ,x+ ,
x(x+ ) .
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors’ contributions
All authors contributed equally to the writing of this paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Author details
1School of Mechanical, Electronic and Control Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China.2Tangshan
Railway Vehicle Co. LTD, Tangshan, 063035, China.3Department of Mathematics, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing,
Acknowledgements
This paper was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 11371050. The authors would like to thank the referees for their valuable comments and suggestions which essentially improved the quality of this paper.
Received: 28 February 2016 Accepted: 19 May 2016 References
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