Fuzzy groups, fuzzy functions and fuzzy equivalence relations. (Q1876520)

The paper applies the notion of fuzzy functions with respect to fuzzy equalities introduced by the first author [cf. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 106, No. 2, 239-246 (1999; Zbl 0934.03067); J. Math. Anal. Appl. 252, No. 1, 495-517 (2000; Zbl 0973.03071); Int. J. Gen. Syst. 32, No. 2, 123-155 (2003; Zbl 1028.03044); ibid. 157-175 (2003; Zbl 1028.03045); ibid. 177-201 (2003; Zbl 1028.03046)]. The main goal of the paper is a comparison between properties of fuzzy groups [cf., e.g., \textit{N. Kuroki}, Inf. Sci. 53, No. 3, 203-236 (1991; Zbl 0714.20052); ibid. 75, No. 3, 201-211 (1993; Zbl 0808.20052)] and vague groups [cf. \textit{M. Demirci}, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 230, No. 1, 142-156 (1999; Zbl 0949.20050)] with applications to fuzzy subgroups and vague groups on the real line. Final results of the paper are very restrictive: reduce a fuzzy case to the crisp one. For example (Theorem 5.4), any admissible fuzzy equivalence relation on the real line reduces to a two-valued function (like the characteristic function of the identity relation). Similarly, fuzzy numbers considered as fuzzy groups reduce to fuzzy points (Corollary 5.5) or to triangular fuzzy numbers (Example 5.10).