A Generalized Logarithm for Exponential-Linear Equations (Q4532902)

In order to ``solve'' equations of the form \(b^x= ax+ c\) for \(x\), with \(a\), \(b\), \(c\), \(x\) real (this is the equation featuring in the title), the author considers inverting the function \(y= e^x/x\). As the range of this function is \(\mathbb{R}\setminus[0,e[\) and as every \(y> e\) is the image of an \(x<\log y\) as well as an \(x> \log y\), an inverse has to be crafted with care. It is called a \textit{generalized logarithm} and denoted by glog; more precisely, the author writes \(\text{glog}_-(y)\) for the smaller \(x\) and \(\text{glog}_+(y)\) for the larger \(x\) when \(y> e\). He develops the algebraic and analytic properties of this function, demonstrates its utility, and pleads for its admission into the canon of elementary transcendental functions. The strongest argument for this is the close resemblance of glog to the inverse of the function \(y= xe^x\), a function denominated by \(W\) and studied in depth by \textit{R. M. Corless}, \textit{G. H. Gonnet}, \textit{D. E. G. Hare}, \textit{D. J. Jeffrey} and \textit{D. E. Knuth} [Adv. Comput. Math. 5, No. 4, 329-359 (1996; Zbl 0863.65008)]. Their paper gives many applications, numerical calculations, and an extensive bibliography of the function \(W\), which occurs in both Maple and Mathematica.