We classify the affine actions of ${{U}_{q}}\left( sl\left( 2 \right) \right)$ on commutative polynomial rings in $m\,\ge \,1$ variables. We show that, up to scalar multiplication, there are two possible actions. In addition, for each action, the subring of invariants is a polynomial ring in either $m$ or $m\,-\,1$ variables, depending upon whether $q$ is or is not a root of 1.

Let A be a domain over an algebraically closed field with Gelfand–Kirillov dimension in the interval [2,3). We prove that if A has two locally nilpotent skew derivations satisfying some natural conditions, then A must be one of five algebras. All five algebras are Noetherian, finitely generated, and have Gelfand–Kirillov dimension equal to 2. We also obtain some results comparing the Gelfand–Kirillov dimension of an algebra to its subring of invariants under a locally nilpotent skew derivation.

If σ is an automorphism and δ is a σ-derivation of a ring R, then the subring of invariants is the set R(δ)={r∈R[mid ]δ(r)=0}. The main result of this paper is ‘let R be a semiprime ring with an algebraic σ-derivation δ such that R(δ) is central; then R is commutative’. This theorem generalizes results on the invariants of automorphisms and derivations and is proved by reducing down to the special cases of automorphisms and derivations.

Let R be a ring which possesses a unit element, a Lie ideal U ⊄ Z, and a derivation d such that d(U) ≠ 0 and d(u) is 0 or invertible, for all u∈ U. We prove that R must be either a division ring D or D2, the 2 X 2 matrices over a division ring unless d is not inner, R is not semiprime, and either 2R or 3R is 0. We also examine for which division rings D, D2 can possess such a derivation and study when this derivation must be inner.

Let R be a prime ring and d≠0 a derivation of R. We examine the relationship between the structure of R and that of d(R). We prove that if R is an algebra over a commutative ring A such that d(R) is a finitely generated submodule then R is an order in a simple algebra finite dimensional over its center.

In this paper we study a question which, although somewhat special, has the virtue that its answer can be given in a very precise, definitive, and succinct way. It shows that the structure of a ring is very tightly determined by the imposition of a special behavior on one of its derivations.

The problem which we shall examine is: Suppose that R is a ring with unit element, 1, and that d ≠ 0 is a derivation of R such that for every x ∊ R, d(x) = 0 or d(x) is invertible in R; must R then have a very special structure?

As we shall see, the answer to this question is yes, in particular we show that except for a special case which occurs when 2R = 0, R must be a division ring D or the ring D 2 of 2 × 2 matrices over a division ring.

In this paper we examine the nature of rings R with unit having an automorphism ϕ ≠ 1 such that x — ϕ(x) is 0 or invertible for every x ∊ R. We show that the only examples of such rings are R = D, R = D2 , and R = D ⊕ D, where D is a division ring. Furthermore, for the case D2 , we describe the division rings that are possible.