Approximation in commutative Banach algebras with dense principal ideals (Q808387)

Let \(A\) be a commutative Banach algebra, and let \(a\in A\) such that \(a\)A is dense in \(A\), i.e. for each \(b\in B\) there is a sequence \(\{x_ k\}\) in \(A\) such that \(ax_ k\to b\). We ask to which extent we have the growth of \(\{x_ k\}\) in norm under control, and if for each \(b\in A\) a bounded \(\{x_ k\}\) will do. As an easy application of Cohen's factorization theorem we obtain: If A has a bounded, sequential approximate identity, then for each \(c_ 0\)-sequence \(\{\omega_ k\}\) of strictly positive reals, there is \(a\in A\) such that for each \(b\in A\) there is a sequence \(\{x_ k\}\) in \(A\) with \(ax_ k\to b\) and \(\| x_ k\| \omega_ k\to 0.\) On the other hand, if A has no non-zero idempotents, then for each \(a\in A\) with \(\overline{aA}=A\) there is \(b\in A\) such that every sequence \(\{x_ k\}\) in A with \(ax_ k\to b\) is unbounded.