Minimal non-commutative \(n\)-insertive rings. (Q1566030)

For each integer \(n\), call a ring \(R\) \(n\)-insertive (resp. \(n\)-commutative) if whenever \(a,b\in R\) and \(ab=n\), it follows that \(arb=nr\) for all \(r\in R\) (resp. \(ba=n\)). Restricting their attention to finite rings with 1, the authors identify the minimal noncommutative \(n\)-insertive and \(n\)-commutative rings. They have studied 0-insertive rings in an earlier paper [Math. J. Okayama Univ. 40(1998), 69-76 (2000; Zbl 1029.16014)], and in this paper they prove that all finite 1-insertive rings are commutative. For \(|n|>1\), they prove that all minimal noncommutative \(n\)-insertive rings have \(p^4\) elements, where \(p\) is the smallest prime dividing \(|n|\); and they show that there are \(2p+4\) such rings, except when \(p=2\), in which case there are five. The \(n\)-commutative problem is simpler. There are precisely two minimal noncommutative \(n\)-commutative rings -- one of order 8 which is \(n\)-commutative for all odd \(n\), and one of order 16 which is \(n\)-commutative for all even \(n\).