A theorem of Sturm and \(K_ 1\) for rings of real continuous functions (Q1118652)

Let A be the ring of real continuous functions. The author indicates a way for constructing non-trivial elements of the group \(SK_ 1(2,A)=SL_ 2A/E_ 2A\). In particular, the matrix \(\left( \begin{matrix} \cos (t)\\ -\sin (t)\end{matrix} \begin{matrix} \sin (t)\\ \cos (t)\end{matrix} \right)\) does not belong to \(E_ 2A\) (this is the negative answer for the corresponding problem of C. U. Jensen). The proof is based on the fact that if a matrix \(\left( \begin{matrix} f_ 1\\ *\end{matrix} \begin{matrix} f_ 2\\ *\end{matrix} \right)\in E_ 2A\), i.e., it is a product of elementary matrices, then there exists a Sturm sequence starting with \(f_ 1\), \(f_ 2\).