On sums and products of diagonalizable matrices over division rings

Abstract

This paper aims to continue the studies initiated by Botha in [Linear Algebra Appl. 273 (1998), 65-82; Linear Algebra Appl. 286 (1999), 37-44; Linear Algebra Appl. 315 (2000), 1-23] by extending them to matrices over noncommutative division rings. In particular, we show that every such matrix can be written as either a sum or a product of two diagonalizable matrices. The number $2$ is not valid under mild conditions on the center, similar to those in Botha's work on fields. By applying this result and other results obtained so far, we latter establish some Waring-type results for matrices.