Sums of squares in certain quaternion and octonion algebras (Q2431119)

Let \(R\) be a not necessarily associative ring with unity. The level of \(R\) is defined as \[ s(R)=\inf\{n\in{\mathbb N}\mid \exists x_1,\dots,x_n\in R:x_1^2+\dots+x_n^2=-1\} \] and the sublevel as \[ \underline{s}(R)=\inf\{n\in{\mathbb N}\mid \exists x_1,\dots,x_{n+1}\in R\setminus\{0\}: x_1^2+\dots+x_{n+1}^2=0\}. \] The author presents formulae for the levels and sublevels of certain quaternion and octonion algebras.