A note on the finite basis and finite rank properties for pseudovarieties of semigroups (Q2413519)

Standard terminology for varieties carries over to pseudovarieties: a pseudovariety (here, of finite semigroups) is finitely based if it admits a finite basis of pseudoidentities; it has finite rank if it admits a basis of pseudoidentities in finitely many variables. Clearly the former implies the latter. The main result is that if a set of balanced identities generates an infinitely based variety of semigroups, then its intersection with the pseudovariety \(\mathbf N\) of finite nilsemigroups is infinitely based as a pseudovariety. Thus, known examples of semigroup varieties of finite rank that are infinitely based yield pseudovarieties with the analogous property. A concrete instance is provided by the variety defined by the identities \(xyx^ny = yx^nyx\), \(n \geq 2\), due to \textit{E. S. Lyapin} [Math. Notes 7, 330--332 (1970; Zbl 0215.11202)].