Maps determined by action on identity-product elements (Q648929)

In the last decade, there has been a great interest in maps characterized by action on zero-product operators in operator algebras. This study was initiated by the reviewer and his collaborators [\textit{W. Jing}, \textit{S. Lu}, and \textit{P. Li}, Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 66, No. 2, 227--232 (2002; Zbl 1035.47019)]. In the paper under review, instead of the action on zero-product operators, the authors study maps determined by their action on identity-product elements on matrix algebras. Let \(M_n(R)\) be the algebra of all \(n\times n\) matrices over a unital commutative ring \(R\) such that 6 \(\in R\) is invertible. It is proved that if \(\delta : M_n(R)\to M_n(R)\) is an invertible linear map preserving the identity-product, that is, \(\delta (A)\delta (B)=\delta (I)\) whenever \(AB=I\), then \(\delta \) is a Jordan automorphism. It is also shown that if a linear map \(\delta :M_n(R)\to M_n(R)\) is derivable at the identity, namely, \(\delta (A)B+A\delta (B)=\delta (I)\) whenever \(AB=I\), then \(\delta \) is an inner derivation.