SUMS OF UNITS IN RINGS.

In this paper, we study rings that are additively generated by units. We prove that if the identity in a ring with stable range one is a sum of two units, then every (von Neumann) regular element is a sum of two units. It follows that every element in a unit-regular ring is a sum of two units if the identity is a sum of two units. Also, if the identity of a strongly π-regular ring is a sum of two units, then every element is a sum of three units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]