Matrices over non-commutative rings as sums of fifth and seventh powers

Abstract

Let $R$ be non-commutative ring with unity. In this paper, we prove that a given matrix in $M_n(R)$ is a sum of $p$-th powers in $M_n(R)$, where $n<p$ if and only if its trace can be written as a sum of $p$-th powers in $M_n(R)$, for $n = 2,3,4$ and $p = 5$ and $n = 4,5,6$ for $p = 7$. This paper extends the results of S. A. Katre and Kshipra Wadikar, $(p=3)$ and Garge $(n \geq p), (p = 5, 7)$, and S. A. Katre and Deepa Krishnamurthi $(n \geq p)$.