The multiplication probability of a finite ring (Q6971722)

In this paper, the author studies the \textit{generalized multiplication probability} of an arbitrary finite ring \(R\), defined as the probability that the product of two randomly chosen elements equals a given element. Extending earlier results of \textit{S. U. Rehman} et al. [Southeast Asian Bull. Math. 43 (3), 413--418 (2019; Zbl 1449.13017); Int. Electron. J. Algebra 33, 125--132 (2023; Zbl 1518.13007)] for finite commutative rings, as well as \textit{D. Dolžan} [Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 106 (1), 83--88 (2022; Zbl 1510.16019)] on zero-multiplication probabilities, the paper develops explicit formulas and bounds for various classes of finite rings.\N\NThe paper is organized into four sections. After introducing definitions and preliminaries, Lemma~2.4 generalizes existing results by providing bounds for \(\operatorname{Prob}_x(R)\), the probability that the product of two randomly chosen elements equals \(x\). In particular, for a nonzero nonunit \(x\),\N\[\N\frac{|R^*|}{|R|^2} \cdot \frac{2 + |Z(R)|}{|Z(R)|} \;\leq\; \operatorname{Prob}_x(R) \;\leq\; \frac{|R|^2 - 2|R||Z(R)| + |Z(R)|^2}{|R|^2},\N\]\Nand similar estimates are obtained for \(\operatorname{Prob}_0(R)\).\N\NTheorem~3.2 computes the exact multiplication probability for submatrices of rank \(r\) in \(M_n(F)\) over a finite field \( F\), providing a closed formula depending on \(q = |F|\). Section~4 focuses on finite local rings: Theorem~4.2 establishes a precise formula for \(\operatorname{Prob}_x(R)\) when \(|R| = q^n\) and \(R/J \cong \operatorname{GF}(q)\), with Corollary~4.3 characterizing when the bounds are attained. Theorems~4.6 and~4.7 further refine these computations for local rings with nontrivial radical powers and square-zero radicals, respectively.