On n-generalized commutators and Lie ideals of rings

Let [Formula: see text] be an associative ring. Given a positive integer [Formula: see text], for [Formula: see text] we define [Formula: see text], the [Formula: see text]-generalized commutator of [Formula: see text]. By an [Formula: see text]-generalized Lie ideal of [Formula: see text] (at the [Formula: see text]th position with [Formula: see text]) we mean an additive subgroup [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] satisfying [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text] and all [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text]. In the paper, we study [Formula: see text]-generalized commutators of rings and prove that if [Formula: see text] is a noncommutative prime ring and [Formula: see text], then every nonzero [Formula: see text]-generalized Lie ideal of [Formula: see text] contains a nonzero ideal. Therefore, if [Formula: see text] is a noncommutative simple ring, then [Formula: see text]. This extends a classical result due to Herstein [Generalized commutators in rings, Portugal. Math. 13 (1954) 137–139]. Some generalizations and related questions on [Formula: see text]-generalized commutators and their relationship with noncommutative polynomials are also discussed.

A note on rings with certain variables identities

It is proved that certain rings satisfying generalized-commutator constraints of the form[xm,yn,yn,...,yn]=0with m and n depending on x and y, must have nil commutator ideal.

Some commutativity results for rings

It is proved that certain rings satisfying generalized-commutator constraints of the form [xm, yn, yn, …, yn] = 0 must have nil commutator ideal.