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Let $a_n$ be a sequence of non-negative real numbers, and $A(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} a_n \frac{x^n}{n!}$ its exponential generating function. Also, suppose $B(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} b_n \frac{x^n}{n!}$ is such that, for some $k>0$, $[B(x)]^k = A(x)$. If an explicit formula exists for the $a_n$ (or just a formula for the asymptotic behavior), what can be derived about the asymptotic behavior of $b_n$, given $k$?

I'm also interested in the analogous problem for ordinary generating functions.

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You should look at Flajolet-Sedgewick, Chapter VII (thm VII.8 is relevant) - they talk about asymptotics of algebraic generating functions, of which yours is both a special case ($k$-th root is a very simple algebraic function), and more general ($A(x)$ is not necessarily a polynomial), but they may have a lot more.

(the book is available for free here).

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you, I have been using this book extensively during this project. I am afraid that I am not strong enough to turn an existence theorem like the one you cite into a practical answer to my question! $\endgroup$
    – VT Jeffo
    Commented Jul 30, 2015 at 20:39

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