Nonlinear derivations of incidence algebras (Q2226632)

Let \(A\) be an associative algebra over the commutative unital ring \(R\). A derivation on \(A\) is, as usual, an \(R\)-linear map \(D\colon A\to A\) such that \(D(xy)=D(x)y+xD(y)\) for every \(x\), \(y\in A\). A multiplicative (or nonlinear) derivation on \(A\) satisfies only the latter equality, and is not necessarily additive nor linear. The paper under review studies nonlinear derivations in incidence algebras. Let \(I(X,R)\) be the incidence algebra (over \(R\)) of the locally finite preordered set \((X,\leq)\), and suppose \(R\) has no 2-torsions. (Recall that \((X,\leq)\) is locally finite preordered set whenever \(\leq\) is transitive, reflexive, and for every \(x\leq y\) there exist finitely many \(z\) with \(x\leq z\leq y\).) The main theorem of the paper under review is that every nonlinear derivation on \(I(X,R)\) can be represented as a sum of an inner derivation, a transitive induced derivation and an additive induced one. As a corollary one obtains that a nonlinear derivation on \(I(X,R)\) must be additive.