Polynomial functions on subdirect products (Q2270148)

For an algebra \({\mathbf A}= (A, F)\) with universe \(A\) and set \(F\) of operations, the set \(\text{Pol}({\mathbf A})\) of polynomial functions on \({\mathbf A}\) is defined as the clone generated by the operations in \(F\) and all constant functions from \(A\) to \(A\). Furthermore, let \(\text{Con}({\mathbf A})\) denote the set of all congruences of \({\mathbf A}\). Then a \(k\)-ary function \(f: A^k\to A\) preserves \(\alpha\in \text{Con}({\mathbf A})\) if \((f(x_1,\dots, x_k),f(y_1,\dots, y_k))\in\alpha\) for all \(x_1,\dots, x_k\), \(y_1,\dots, y_k\in A\) with \((x_1,y_1),\dots, (x_k,y_k)\in\alpha\). Such an \(f\) induces a function \(f_\alpha\) on the quotient set \(A/\alpha\) defined by \(f_\alpha(x_1/\alpha,\dots, x_k/\alpha)= f(x_1,\dots, x_k)/\alpha\). Clearly, polynomial functions on \({\mathbf A}\) preserve all congruences of \({\mathbf A}\). Let \(\alpha,\beta\in\text{Con}({\mathbf A})\). Then it is said that \({\mathbf A}\) has no skew congruences between \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) if \(\gamma= (\gamma\wedge\alpha)\vee(\gamma\wedge\beta)\) for all \(\gamma\in\text{Con}({\mathbf A})\) with \(\alpha\wedge \beta\leq \gamma\leq\alpha\vee\beta\). A ternary function \(f\) on \(A\) is a Mal'tsev function if \(f(x,y,y)= f(y,y,x)=x\) for all \(x,y\in A\). Recall that an algebra \({\mathbf A}\) generates a congruence permutable variety if and only if it has a Mal'tsev term function. The algebra \({\mathbf A}\) is called a Mal'tsev algebra if there is a Mal'tsev function in \(\text{Pol}({\mathbf A})\). The main result of the paper is the following theorem (generalizing a result of \textit{E. Aichinger} [Proc. Edinb. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 44, No.~2, 379--388 (2001; Zbl 0984.16040)] on \(\Omega\)-groups): Let \({\mathbf A}\) be a finite Mal'tsev algebra, and let \(\alpha,\beta\in\text{Con}(A)\) such that \(\alpha\wedge\beta= 0_A\) and there are no skew congruences between \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\). Let \(f\) be a function on \(A\) that preserves \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\). Then \(f\in\text{Pol}({\mathbf A})\) if and only if \(f_\alpha\in\text{Pol}({\mathbf A}/\alpha)\) and \(f_\beta\in \text{Pol}({\mathbf A}/\beta)\). In other words: A congruence preserving function on a subdirect product of two finite Mal'tsev algebras is polynomial if it induces polynomial functions on the subdirect factors and there are no skew congruences between the projection kernels. As a special case, if the direct product \({\mathbf A}\times{\mathbf B}\) of algebras \({\mathbf A}\) and \({\mathbf B}\) in a congruence permutable variety has no skew congruences, then the polynomial functions on \({\mathbf A}\times{\mathbf B}\) are exactly the direct products of polynomials on \({\mathbf A}\) and on \({\mathbf B}\). These descriptions apply in particular to polynomial functions on non-associative rings. Furthermore, it is proved that also for finite algebras in a variety with a majority term \(t\) (satisfying \(t(x,x,y)= t(x,y,x)= t(y,x,x)= x\)), the polynomial functions on \({\mathbf A}\times{\mathbf B}\) are exactly the direct products of polynomials on \({\mathbf A}\) and on \({\mathbf B}\) (generalizing a result of \textit{D. Dorninger} and \textit{W. Nöbauer} [Colloq. Math. 42, 83--93 (1979; Zbl 0432.06005)] on lattices). An example is given which shows that in arbitrary congruence distributive varieties the corresponding result is not true.