On a conjecture by Yang (Q5957176)

The aim of the paper is to prove the following assertion: Let \(x > 0\). Then \[ \Big(1 + \frac 1 x \Big)^x = e \Big(1 - \sum^{\infty}_{n = 1} \frac {a_n}{(1 + x)^n}\Big), \] where the coefficients \(a_n\) are given by \[ a_0 = -1 \;\text{and} \;a_n = - \frac 1 n \sum^{n - 1}_{k = 0} \frac {a_k}{n + 1 - k}, \quad n = 1, 2, \dots . \] The coefficients \(a_n\) are positive for all \(n > 1\). In particular, \(a_1 = 1/2\), \(a_2 = 1/24\), \(a_3 = 1/48\), \(a_4 = 73/5760\), \(a_5 = 11/1280\), \(a_6 = 3625/580608\). Note that this theorem solves an open problem posed by \textit{X. Yang} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 253, 691-694 (2001; Zbl 0984.26006)].