An algorithmic proof of suslin’s stability theorem for polynomial rings

Abstract

Let k be a field. Then Gaussian elimination over k and the Euclidean division algorithm for the univariate polynomial ring k[x] allow us to write any matrix in SLn(k) or SLn(k[x]), n ≥ 2, as a product of elementary matrices. Suslin’s stability theorem states that the same is true for SLn(k[xl, xm]) with n ≥ 3 and m ≥ 1. In this paper, we present an algorithmic proof of Suslin’s stability theorem, thus providing a method for finding an explicit factorization of a given polynomial matrix into elementary matrices. Groöbner basis techniques may be used in the implementation of the algorithm. © 1995 Academic Press, Inc.