Zero product determined matrix algebras (Q1002249)

An algebra \(A\) over a commutative ring \(C\) is zero product determined if for every \(C\)-module \(X\) and every bilinear map \(\{\cdot ,\cdot\}:A\times A\to X\) the following holds: if \(\{x,y\}=0\) whenever \(xy=0\), then there exists a linear operator \(T\) such that \(\{x,y\}=T(xy)\) for all \(x,y\in A\). If we replace in this definition the ordinary product by the Lie (resp. Jordan) product, then we say \(A\) is zero (resp. Jordan) product determined. It is shown that the matrix algebra \(M_n(B),\;n\geq 2\), where \(B\) is any unital algebra, is always zero product determined, and under some technical restrictions it is also zero Jordan product determined. The main part of the paper is devoted to the problem whether \(M_n(B)\) is zero Lie product determined. It also shown that this is not true in general for all unital algebras \(B\). However, if \(B\) is zero Lie product determined, then so is \(M_n(B)\).