Embedding partial totally symmetric quasigroups. (Q2642022)

This paper concerns the embedding problem for partial totally symmetric quasigroups. In fact, interest in the embedding for partial totally symmetric quasigroups is not new [see \textit{R. Chaffer, M. Eggen, R. St. Andre}, and \textit{D. Smith}, Algebra Univers. 5, 257-262 (1975; Zbl 0323.08007)]. In this paper it is proved that any partial totally symmetric quasigroup of order \(n\) can be embedded in a totally symmetric quasigroup of some finite order. Also \textit{C. C. Lindner} and \textit{A. B. Cruse}, [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 12, 479-484 (1976; Zbl 0338.20099)], proved that any partial totally symmetric quasigroup of order \(n\) has an embedding in a totally symmetric quasigroup of order \(v\) if \(v\geqslant 6\) and \(v\equiv 0\pmod 6\). Other authors made further progress by showing that any partial totally symmetric quasigroup of order \(n\) can be embedded in a totally symmetric quasigroup of order \(v\) if \(v\geqslant 4n+4\) and \(v\) is even. In this paper the authors give a general outline of this overall embedding method. To do this, the authors use some terminology which is defined as well as the equivalence of totally symmetric quasigroups and extended triple systems. The method of the authors is an extension of the techniques developed by \textit{D. Bryant} and \textit{D. Horsley} [in ``A proof of Lindner's conjecture on embeddings of partial Steiner triple systems'' (preprint)], to settle the embedding problem for partial Steiner triple systems.