The discrete function is extended to the continuous variable by the gamma function , which has the property that for integers . Although this function is known to Maple by the name GAMMA, this path is not fruitful for the calculus student. The appropriate approach is to examine the behavior of and generalize its behavior from the following observations.
where the fraction in parentheses, obtained by factoring out , is less than 1. Hence, by an application of Theorem 8.1.3 (the discrete form of the Squeeze theorem), , so the limit of the given sequence is zero.