Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / iii / Paper 336 / 1 / a / Solution

There are two positive roots for $u>1$: the derivative of $x{e}^{1/x}$ is $e^{1/x}(1-1/x)$, so the function decreases to its minimum $e$ at $x=1$ and then increases. Negative $x$ cannot solve the equation. For the larger root, expansion of the exponential function in $1/x$ givesso series reversion yieldsFor the smaller root, set $y=1/x$ and take a logarithm. Then $y-\log y=u$, so successive substitution gives $y=u+\log u+O(\log u/u)$ andThese are the first two nonzero terms of the two asymptotic expansions. Equivalently, the roots are $-1/W_0(-e^{-u})$ and $-1/W_{-1}(-e^{-u})$, from the real branches of Lambert W.