On meaningful transformation equations (Q2316023)

The authors consider five functional equations, including the one usually called {transformation equation}: \[ F(F(x,y),z)=F(x,K(y,z)),\qquad x,y,z\in I, \] where \(F,K: I^2\to I\) are unknown functions and \(I\) is a real interval. The other four are: the {quasi-permutability equation} \[F(G(x,y),z)=F(G(x,z),y),\] the {distributivity equation} \[F(G(x,y)z)=G(F(x,z),F(y,z)),\] the {four-functions transformation equation} \[F(G(x,y),z)=H(x,K(y,z)),\] and the {six-functions transformation equation} \[F(G(x,y),H(u,v))=K(M(x,u),N(y,v)).\] The above equations are studied under the general condition of \textit{meaningfulness}. This concept applies to a collection of functions depending on a choice of units of its variables and means that the form of an equation is invariant with respect to changes of these units. Meaningfulness together with other regularity conditions yields representations of the solutions of the considered equations.