The \((2,2,0)\) group inverse problem (Q711279)

The authors characterize the existence of the group inverse of the block matrix \[ M=\left( \begin{matrix} A & C \\ B & 0 \end{matrix} \right), \] with zero \((2,2)\) entry, over a ring by means of the existence of the inverse of a suitable expression of the other three blocks \(A\), \(B\), \(C\) and their g-inverses, such as inner inverses or Drazin inverses. The authors need the concept of regularity, which guarantees solutions to \(AA^-A=A\) and \(AA^+A=A\), \(A^+AA^+=A^+\). It is known that if in addition \(AA^+=A^+A\) then \(A^+\) is the group inverse of \(A\) and is denoted by \(A^{\sharp}\). The main result of this paper establishes: If \(B\), \(C\) and \(W=(1-CC^+)A(1-B^+B)\) are regular then, \(M\) has a group inverse if and only if \[ A(1-B^+B)-CB+(1-WW^-)(1-CC^+)[1+AB^+B-B^+B] \] is a unit. From this result some special cases are derived. Specifically, the group inverse of the block matrices \[ M=\left( \begin{matrix} A & A \\ B & 0 \end{matrix} \right) \text{ and } M=\left( \begin{matrix} A & 1 \\ B & 0 \end{matrix} \right) \] is analyzed.