On weighted degree for polynomial rings (Q2373964)

The main result of \textit{L. Makar-Limanov} [Isr. J. Math. 69, No. 2, 250--256 (1990; Zbl 0711.14022)] gives that the automorphism group of the affine surface of the equation \(xy=P(z)\), where \(P(z)\in K[z]\) is a polynomial of degree \(\geq 2\) and \(K\) is an algebraically closed field, is generated by the hyperbolic rotations, the involution and the triangular transformations. Only for very particular choices of \(P(z)\), also complete described in the paper, some other generators are required. The proof of Makar-Limanov essentially depends on Lemma 2 there which is stated in terms of the degree function \(\deg_{d_1,d_2}\) with references to Lemma 6.8.3 from \textit{P. M. Cohn} [Free rings and their relations. 2nd ed. London etc.: Academic Press (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers) (1985; Zbl 0659.16001)]. In the paper under review the authors claim that one needs to check in detail the proof of the lemma of Makar-Limanov because he states the lemma for real \(d_1,d_2\) and in his book Cohn considers non-zero integers \(d_1,d_2\) only. The main purpose of the paper is the systematic study of all steps of the proof of Makar-Limanov and to show that everything can be derived from the lemma of Cohn.