International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences 
Volume 21 (1998), Issue 2, Pages 411-412
doi:10.1155/S016117129800057X

On a problem of commutativity of automorphims

M. Anwar Chaudhry and A. B. Thaheem

Department of Mathematical Sciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

Received 8 January 1996

Abstract

In this note we provide a partial answer to a problem proposed by M. Brehr. We prove that if α,β are automorphisms of a commutative prime ring of characteristic not equal to 2 satisfying the equation α+α1=β+β1, then either α=β or α=β1. As a consequence α and β commute and in this situation the equation itself ensures the commutativity of α and β.