I've got a question about matrices and matrix algebras that offhand seems difficult, I'm wondering there is any sharp solution? Or perhaps it's known to not have any solution at all?

EDIT: First question, I suppose, is to ask, given the generators (and supposing that they're linearly independent), what's the best way to figure out the sub-algebra (or even just its dimension) of the full matrix algebra that you can generate?

Second, suppose you have some set of $n$ complex $D\times D$ matrices $\{M_1,...,M_n\}$, and consider the algebra which they generate (under finite multiplications and additions with coefficients over the complex numbers), in particular, consider the case where that algebra is NOT the full matrix algebra $M_D(C)$. I've seen solutions to the following problem in the case that the generators eventually generate the full algebra, but the techniques used to get the bounds operate under the important assumption that the full algebra is indeed generated.

It seems clear that you should be able to generate any "basis" element (in the vector space sense, a matrix with a one in exactly one entry and zero everywhere else) which exists in your algebra after some finite number of multiplications. My question is, is there a good way to figure out exactly what the "maximum" number of multiplications you'd need to generate any of the basis elements is? Certainly it should be bounded, but has anyone figured out bounds on this, perhaps different bounds given different conditions on your set of generators?

If anyone recognizes this as something other people have thought about/figured out and could point me in the right direction I would be very grateful!