A commutativity and finiteness condition for rings (Q1401623)

In the paper under review the authors consider the following combinatorial condition on a ring \(R\): For every two infinite subsets \(X\) and \(Y\): \(XY=YX\), where for nonempty subsets \(A,B\) of \(R\), \(AB\) denotes the set \(\{ab\mid a\in A,\;b\in B\}\). Such a ring \(R\) is called a \(P_\infty\)-ring. The first author of this paper studied [in Commun. Algebra 25, No. 3, 989-998 (1997; Zbl 0884.16020)] \(P_n\)-rings where \(n\) is a positive integer and a \(P_n\)-ring is defined by the property that \(XY=YX\) for all \(n\)-subsets \(X\) and \(Y\) of \(R\). Obviously every finite or commutative or \(P_n\)-ring is a \(P_\infty\)-ring. The authors prove the interesting result that the converse is also true for infinite rings, i.e. every infinite \(P_\infty\)-ring is commutative. It is interesting to quote that groups with a similar combinatorial condition have been studied (see for example [\textit{A. Abdollahi} and \textit{A. Mohammadi Hassanabadi}, Bull. Iran. Math. Soc. 24, No. 2, 41-48 (1998; Zbl 0936.20037) and Can. Math. Bull. 41, No. 1, 65-70 (1998; Zbl 0908.20022)]).