FINDING THE NATURAL SOLUTION TO f(f(x)) = exp(x)

In this paper, we study the fractional iterates of the exponential function. This is an unresolved problem, not due to a lack of a known solution, but because there are an innite number of solutions, and there is no agreement as to which solution is "best." We will approach the problem by rst solving Abel's functional equation ${\alpha}(e^x)={\alpha}(x)+1$ by perturbing the exponential function so as to produce a real xed point, allowing a unique holomorphic solution. We then use this solution to nd a solution to the unperturbed problem. However, this solution will depend on the way we rst perturbed the exponential function. Thus, we then strive to remove the dependence of the perturbed function. Finally, we produce a solution that is in a sense more natural than other solutions.