Regular left-continuous t-norms (Q1006336)

A triangular norm (t-norm) \(\odot\) can be determined by its \textit{translations} \(\lambda_a:[0,1]\to[0,1]\), \(x\mapsto x\odot a\), where \(a\in[0,1]\). They form the set \(\Lambda=\{\lambda_a: a\in[0,1]\}\) of (non-strictly) increasing, mutually commuting functions and for each \(a\in[0,1]\), \(\lambda_a\) is the unique element of \(\Lambda\) such that \(\lambda_a(1)=a\). These conditions are also sufficient for \(\Lambda\) to represent a t-norm. The collection \(\Lambda\) is closed under composition (\(\lambda_a\circ\lambda_b=\lambda_{a\odot b}\)). With the natural partial order, it has bounds \(0\) and \(\text{id}\) (the identity on \([0,1]\)). Thus \((\Lambda,\leq,\circ,0,\text{id})\) is a bounded totally ordered commutative monoid isomorphic to \(([0,1],\leq,\odot,0,1)\) (under the isomorphism \(a\mapsto\lambda_a\)). The author restricts his attention to so-called \textit{regular} left-continuous t-norms, i.e., {\parindent=6,5mm \begin{itemize}\item[(i)] the numbers of discontinuity points of elements of \(\Lambda\) have a finite uniform bound, and \item[(ii)] the intervals of idempotent elements of \(\lambda_a\), \(a\in[0,1]\), depend on \(a\) in a certain continuous manner. \end{itemize}} The class of regular left-continuous t-norms is strictly smaller than the class of left-continuous t-norms, but they generate the same variety of t-norm algebras, namely the variety of MTL-algebras [\textit{F. Esteva} and \textit{L. Godo}, ``Monoidal t-norm based logic: Towards a logic for left-continuous t-norms'', Fuzzy Sets Syst. 124, No. 3, 271--288 (2001; Zbl 0994.03017)]. The author analyses the structure of regular left-continuous t-norms and shows that each of them admits a finite partition of \([0,1]\) into intervals on which the t-norm generates monoids from one of six specific classes. This gives a new view and a generalization of numerous constructions of left-continuous t-norms. Numerous examples demonstrate the notions and results of the paper; among them, an example of two left-continuous t-norms whose arithmetic mean is a t-norm. This extends the collection of examples answering Problem~5 raised by \textit{C. Alsina, M. J. Frank}, and \textit{B. Schweizer} in [``Problems on associative functions'', Aequationes Math. 66, No. 1--2, 128--140 (2003; Zbl 1077.39021)].