Comparing semigroup and monoid presentations for finite monoids (Q1598192)

The deficiency of a finite presentation \(\langle A\mid R\rangle\) is the number \(|R|-|A|\). The monoid (respectively semigroup) deficiency of a finitely presented monoid \(M\) is the minimum of all deficiencies of monoid (respectively semigroup) presentations of \(M\). The main result in the paper characterizes the finite monoids \(M\) for which the semigroup and monoid deficiencies coincide in terms of the following necessary and sufficient condition: if \(G\) is the group of units and \(I\) its complement, then \(|GaG|<|G|^2\) for all \(a\in(I\setminus I^2)\). The proof works for arbitrary finitely presented monoids under the extra assumption that \(I\) is an ideal.