Sums of automorphisms of free modules and completely decomposable groups. (Q2497418)

In the present paper, the author studies modules and torsion-free Abelian groups with the property that every endomorphism is a sum of two automorphisms (units). This problem has a rich background in the literature concerning vector spaces (Zelinsky), free modules (Meehan), totally projective \(p\)-groups (Hill) etc. The paper starts with a study of free modules over arbitrary rings. The main results are the following: If for a free module of finite rank every endomorphism is a sum of two units then every endomorphism of an infinite rank free module is a sum of two units (Theorem 2.5 and Theorem 2.7), and If \(R\) is an elementary divisor ring then every endomorphism of a free module of rank greater than 1 is a sum of two units (Theorem 2.8). In the last section of the paper the author uses these results to give a complete answer, for completely decomposable groups, to the following problem: Decide if for every endomorphism \(\varphi\) of a module \(M\) there exists an integer \(m_\varphi\) and units \(u_1,\dots,u_{m_\varphi}\) such that \(\varphi=u_1+\cdots+u_{m_\varphi}\). If the property is valid, decide if there exists an integer \(m\) such that we can put \(m_\varphi=m\) for all \(\varphi\), and in this situation find the minimal \(m\). The answer is given in Theorem 3.4.