Embedding semigroups in groups: not as simple as it might seem (Q461381)

The author traces the evolution of the problem of embedding semigroups in groups, during the first half of the 1900s. The paper looks at Maltsev's example of a semigroup that cannot be embedded in a group. It then moves on to Maltsev's necessary and sufficient conditions for when a semigroup can be embedded in a group. These conditions were not very practical, mainly because there were infinitely many conditions. Consequently, the problem still attracted great interest afterwards. The author then discusses Pták's necessary and sufficient conditions for when a semigroup can be embedded in a group. Finally, the paper gives Lambek's necessary and sufficient conditions which are much easier to understand than Maltsev's conditions on account of Lambek's use of the pictorial aid of polyhedra.