Equations implying congruence \(n\)-permutability and semidistributivity. (Q2443677)

Let \(\Sigma\) be a set of identities. A variety \(\mathcal V\) is said to `realize' \(\Sigma\) if every function symbol occurring in \(\Sigma\) can be interpreted as a term of \(\mathcal V\). It is said to be `inconsistent' if \(\Sigma\vDash x\approx y\). It is said to be `idempotent' if \(\Sigma\vDash f(x,\ldots,x)\approx x\) for every function symbol \(f\) appearing in \(\Sigma\). The function symbol \(f\) is said to be `independent' of its first place if \(\Sigma\vDash f(x,\mathbf z)\approx f(y,\mathbf z)\) for a sequence of variables \(\mathbf z\) which are mutually distinct and distinct from \(x,y\). The function symbol \(f\) is said to be `weakly independent' of its first place if \(\Sigma\vDash f(y,\mathbf w)\approx x\) where \(y\neq x\) but where \(\mathbf w\) is a sequence of variables not necessarily distinct. Independent and weak independent of other places are defined in a similar way. An identity \(s\approx t\) is said to be `linear' if each of the terms \(s,t\) has at most one occurrence in a function symbol. \(\Sigma\) is said to be linear if each of its members is linear. \textit{T. Dent, K. A. Kearnes} and \textit{A. Szendrei} , in a previous paper [Algebra Univers. 67, No. 4, 375-392 (2012; Zbl 1259.08004)], define the `derivative' \(\Sigma'\) of \(\Sigma\) and show that \(\Sigma'\) inconsistent implies that any variety that realizes \(\Sigma\) is congruence modular and the converse is true if \(\Sigma\) is linear. If \(\mathcal V\) is congruence modular then it realizes some \(\Sigma\) such that \(\Sigma'\) is inconsistent. If \(\Sigma\) is linear and idempotent one can decide effectively if \(\Sigma\) is congruence modular. In the paper under review the author defines the order derivative \(\Sigma^+\) of \(\Sigma\) and shows that the results above remain true if ``congruence modularity'' is replaced by ``congruence \(n\)-permutable for some \(n\)'' and ``\(\Sigma'\) inconsistent'' is replaced by ``some iterated order derivative of \(\Sigma\) is inconsistent''. The author also defines the weak derivative \(\Sigma^*\) of \(\Sigma\) and shows that if \(\Sigma\) is idempotent then, if \(\mathcal V\) realizes \(\Sigma\) and some iterated weak derivative of \(\Sigma\) is inconsistent then \(\mathcal V\) is congruence semi-distributive and if \(\mathcal V\) is congruence semi-distributive then \(\mathcal V\) realizes some \(\Sigma\) whose \(k\)-th iterated weak derivative is inconsistent for some \(k\).