Bivariate functional equations around associativity (Q1759593)

The functional equation of associativity on a nonempty set \(X\) is \[ F(x,F(y,z))=F(F(x,y),z)\quad (x,y,z\in X), \] where \(F\) stands for a bivariate map defined on the Cartesian product \(X\times X\) and taking values in \(X.\) From an algebraic point of view, we can also consider \(F\) as an associative binary operation defined on \(X\) as \(F(x,y)=x*y\quad (x,y\in X).\) Thus the structure \((X,*)\) is a semigroup, and the set of all possible structures of semigroups that may be defined on \(X\) can also be interpreted as the set of the solutions of the functional equation of associativity on \(X.\) It could be observed that the functional equation of associativity involves three variables, namely \(x,y,z\in X.\)