# Inverse of (1+x) ln(1+x) - x

Define g(x) = (1+x) ln(1+x) - x. One can check that g is strictly monotonically increasing for x>=0 by checking its derivative is ln(1+x). So g is invertible and its inverse is also strictly monotically increasing.

Is there an explicit closed form for its inverse?

With a page of calculations I can prove that (1/2) x/ln(1+sqrt(x)) <= g^{-1}(x) <= 2 x/ln(1+sqrt(x)) for all x>=0. Is this obvious? Can estimates like this be found in the literature?

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I don't think there's any reason to expect one. You could try writing it in terms of the Lambert W-function, although I don't see how this could possibly help anybody. You might also try Lagrange inversion: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange_inversion_theorem –  Qiaochu Yuan Jul 8 '10 at 16:52
Why do you say that writing it in terms of Lambert-W couldn't help anyone? Lambert-W hasn't made it into the high school curriculum yet, but it's incorporated in the major symbolic math engines, which know how to evaluate it, manipulate it, etc. In particular, if what OP wants is estimates, well, it shouldn't be too hard to find useful info on Lambert-W on the web. –  Gerry Myerson Jul 9 '10 at 7:14

Just to expand on Qiaochu's comment: let $W$ stand for the Lambert W-function, then if $g(x)=z$, we readily find that $$x=\exp\big(W((z-1)/e)+1\big)-1.$$