The relation $S(u^1_i)u^j_1 = q^{-1}u^j_1S(u^1_i)$ In the Hopf algebra $SL_q(N)$, it can be shown, using direct calculations, that $S(u^1_i)u^j_1 = q^{-1}u^j_1S(u^1_i)$. Can anyone see a more elegant way of establishing this?
Moreover, does anyone know of a similar relation in the more general case of $S(u^1_r)u^i_j$?
Edit (referneces): By $SL_q(N)$ I mean the quantized coordinate algebra (not the quantized enveloping algebra). I am using the conventions of Klimyk and Schmudgen, Chpt 4 for the N=2 case, or Chpt 9 for the general case. 
 A: This is a reasonably known result. That $S(u^1_i)u^j_1 = q^{-1}u^j_1S(u^1_i)$,  was originally proven (to the best of my knowdledge) in FRT's '89 paper "Quantum Groups and Lie Algebras" - the paper is in Russian though. The only English write up of the proof that I known is in Theorem 1 of Vainermann and Podkolzin's '99 paper on Quantum Stiefel Manifolds. It gives a general comm rel for $[S(u^i_j),u^r_s]$, for the general $N$ case, using just the $R$-matrix construction of the $SU_q(N)$. I am sure there are other versions around somewhere though.
A: For the first question, I would use the dual pairing with $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_N)$.  The $u_i^j$'s are defined to be matrix coefficients of the vector representation of $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_N)$ with respect to some distinguished basis, usually a basis of weight vectors.  There are unfortunately a lot of different conventions in use.  My standard reference is Klimyk and Schmudgen.  See, for example, Theorem 19 of Chapter 9 of their book.  It states:
There is a unique dual pairing $( , )$ of Hopf algebras between $U_q^{ext}(\mathfrak{sl}_N)$ and $\mathcal{O}(SL_q(N))$ such that $(f, u^k_l) = t_{kl}(f)$ for all $f \in U_q^{ext}  (\mathfrak{sl}_{N})$.
Here $((t_{kl}(f))$ is the matrix for $f$ in the vector representation.  OK, this theorem is a little bogus in the sense that it is more of a definition.  But the point is that $\mathcal{O}(SL_q(N))$ is generated by the matrix coefficients of all finite-dimensional irreducible representations of $U_q^{ext}  (\mathfrak{sl}_{N})$, and these separate points of $U_q^{ext}  (\mathfrak{sl}_{N})$, so the pairing is nondegenerate.
So, to show that your two guys are equal, just show that they pair the same way with $U_q^{ext}  (\mathfrak{sl}_{N})$.  Since it is a pairing of Hopf algebras, you just need to check on the generators $E_i, F_i, K_\lambda$.  This just requires you to have a handle on the vector representation.  In my opinion this is much cleaner than doing the calculations directly.
