Ramanujan's approximation to the exponential function and generalizations

Abstract: Ramanujan's approximation to the exponential function is reexamined with the help of Perron's saddle-point method. This allows for a wide generalization that includes the results of Buckholtz, and where all the asymptotic expansion coefficients may be given in closed form. Ramanujan's approximation to the exponential integral is treated similarly.