Polynomial interpolation in expanded groups. (Q1421798)

Let \(A\) be a universal algebra, let \(k\) be a natural number and let \(D\) be a subset of \(A^k\). Then a function \(f:D\rightarrow A\) is a compatible or congruence-preserving function on \(A\) iff for all \(a,b\in d\) we have \(f(a)\equiv f(b)\) (mod \(\Theta _{A}(a,b)\)), where \(\Theta _{A}(a,b)\) is the congruence generated by \((a_1,b_1)\), ..., \((a_k,b_k)\). If every congruence-preserving function from \(A^k\) to \(A\) is a polynomial function, then \(A\) is called \(k\)-affine complete. We call \(A\) strictly \(k\)-affine complete iff every \(k\)-ary partial congruence-preserving function with finite domain is a restriction of a polynomial function. The scope of this paper, where the authors develop techniques for polynomial interpolation that work for all algebras that have a group reduct (called expanded groups), is to characterize finite strictly \(1\)-affine complete groups with operations, and, in particular, all finite strictly \(1\)-affine complete groups and commutative rings with unit. We recall that an expanded group \textbf{V} satisfies: 1. Condition (SC1): if for every strictly meet irreducible ideal \(M\) of \textbf{V} we have \((M:M^+)\leq M^+\) (for two ideals \(I,J\in \text{Id}{\mathbf V}\) the centralizer of \(J\) modulo \(I\), written as \((I:J)\) is the largest ideal \(C\in \text{Id}{\mathbf V}\) such that \([C:J]\leq I\), where \([C,J]\) is the commutator ideal of \(C\) and \(J\), and, \(M^+\) is the unique ideal of \textbf{V} which covers \(M\)). 2. {Condition (AB2):} if for all \(A,B\in \text{Id}{\mathbf V}\) with \(A\) covers \(B\) and \([B,B]\leq A\), the ideal \(B\) contains exactly two cosets of \(A\). We are now ready to state the main result of this paper: For a finite expanded group \textbf{V} the following are equivalent: (1) \textbf{V} satisfies (SC1) and (AB2); (2) \textbf{V} is strictly \(1\)-affine complete; (3) Every homomorphic image of \textbf{V} is strictly \(1\)-affine complete; (4) Every homomorphic image of \textbf{V} is \(1\)-affine complete.