Strongly nil clean matrices over \(R[x]/(x^2-1)\) (Q2890352)

Assume \(R\) is an associative ring with identity. An element \(a \in R\) is called strongly clean if there exist an idempotent \(e\in R\) and a unit \(u\in R\) such that \(a=e+u\) and \(eu=ue\), and it is called strongly nil clean, if there exist an idempotent \(e\in R\) and a nilpotent element \(u\in R\) such that \(a=e+u\) and \(eu=ue\). Every strongly nil clean element is strongly clean, but the converse is not true.NEWLINENEWLINEIn this article, \(R\) is a commutative local ring of characteristic 2, and \(A(x) \in M_n(R[x]/(x^2-1))\), where \(n=2,3\). Then the following statements are equivalent:NEWLINENEWLINE(1) \(A(x) \in M_n(R[x]/(x^2-1))\) is strongly nil clean.NEWLINENEWLINE(2) \(A(1) \in M_n(R)\) is strongly nil clean. This theorem characterizes strongly nil cleanness of \(2\times 2\) and \(3\times 3\) matrices over \(R[x]/(x^2-1)\). Matrix decompositions over fields of characteristic 2 are derived as special cases.NEWLINENEWLINEIn general, these results cannot be extended to \(4\times 4\) matrices over a local ring of characteristic 2. However, a special case is discussed.