Three questions on strongly п-regular rings and regular rings^* (Q4029217)

Let \(R\) and \(S\) denote rings with identity, and consider the following questions, the first of which was posed by Y. Hirano, and the other two by R. Yue Chi Ming: Question 1. Let \(S\) be a finite extension of \(R\), such that the identity of \(S\) is equal to the identity of \(R\). If all prime factor rings of \(S\) are artinian, must \(R\) be strongly \(\pi\)- regular? Question 2. If every essential left ideal of \(R\) is an idempotent two-sided ideal, must \(R\) be regular? Question 3. If every ideal of \(R\) is idempotent and every maximal left ideal of \(R\) is an ideal, must \(R\) be strongly regular? The author answers the first two questions in the negative and, under the additional hypothesis that every essential left ideal of \(R\) is two- sided, gives an affirmative answer to the third question. In general, the answer to Question 3 is negative, as was pointed out by \textit{J. Zhang} [Chin. Sci. Bull. 37, No. 13, 1065-1068 (1992; Zbl 0762.16005)].