Let $k$ be a field of characteristic zero and let $E=E(x,y) \in k[x,y]$. Define $t_x(E)$ to be the maximum among $0$ and the $x$-degree of $E(x,0)$. Similarly, define $t_y(E)$ to be the maximum among $0$ and the $y$-degree of $E(0,y)$. The following nice result appears in several places, for example: [Proposition 2.1][1] [Lemma 1.14][2] [Proposition 10.2.6][3]. > **Nice result:** Let $A,B \in k[x,y]$ satisfy $\operatorname{Jac}(A,B) \in k-\{0\}$ (such $A,B$ is called a Jacobian pair). Assume that the $(1,1)$-degree of $A$, $\deg(A)$, is $>1$ and the $(1,1)$-degree of $B$, $\deg(B)$, is $>1$. Then the numbers $t_x(A),t_y(A),t_x(B),t_y(B)$ are all positive. > > **My question:** Is the same result holds in the first Weyl algebra over $k$, $A_1(k)$? where instead of the Jacobian we take the commutator. Of course, we must first define $t_x(A),t_y(A),t_x(B),t_y(B)$ in $A_1(k)$; it seems to me that the same definition holds for $A_1(k)$, or am I missing something? Perhaps it is not possible to consider $E(x,0)$, where $E \in A_1(k)$? If I am not wrong, the proof of [Proposition 2.1][1] can be adjusted to the non-commutative case: **(i)** It is easy to see that [Lemma 1.3][1] has a non-commutative analog. **(ii)** Replacing the Jacobian by the commutator yields a similar result (use $[ab,c]=a[b,c]+[a,c]b$, and then the same conclusion. I have asked this question [here][4]. Thank you very much! [1]: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265368034_On_Appelgate-Onishi's_Lemmas [2]: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-015-8555-2_10 [3]: https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783764363505 [4]: https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/3275302/a-non-commutative-analog-of-a-known-result-concerning-a-jacobian-pair