Factoring multiadditive mappings (Q4033468)

Let \(G\) be an Abelian group, \(K\) a (commutative) field. A quadratic function is a map \(q:G\to K\) which satisfies (1) \(q(x+y)+q(x- y)=2q(x)+2q(y)\) for all \(x,y\in G\). It is known [e.g. \textit{J. Aczél}, Period. Math. Phys. Astron., II. Ser. 20, 65-73 (1965; Zbl 0151.209)] that this is equivalent to the existence of a symmetric biadditive mapping \(F:G^ 2\to K\) such that \(q(x)=F(x,x)\). In particular, if \(G=K=\mathbb{R}\), then every continuous quadratic real function is of the form \(q(x)=bx^ 2\) \((b\) an arbitrary constant). One may expect that, without supposing continuity, the general quadratic (real) functions should be of the form \(q(x)=bA(x)^ 2\) where \(A\) is an arbitrary additive function, but this is not so (implicit in Aczél's paper quoted above). Generalizing a result of \textit{S. Kurepa} [Glasn. Mat.-Fiz. Astron. II. Ser. 20, 79-92 (1965; Zbl 0147.352)], the author proves in the case \(\text{char} K\neq 2\) that \(q(x)=cA(x)^ 2\) if, and only if, in addition to (1) also \((q(x+y)+q(x-y))^ 2=16q(x)q(y)\). This raises the question for necessary and sufficient conditions that a multiadditive map \(F:G^ n\to K\) be of the form (2) \(F(x_ 1,\dots,x_ n)=A_ 1(x_ 1)A_ 2(x_ 2)\dots A_ n(x_ n)\), where \(A_ 1,A_ 2,\dots,A_ n\) are additive functions. While the author does not solve this problem in general, he proves that, in case \(n=2\), \(G\) is a groupoid and \(K\) a field with \(\text{char} K=2\), biadditive maps are of the form (2) if, and only if, (3) \(F(x,y)F(y,x)=F(x,x)F(y,y)\) for all \(x,y\in G\). He also has the following result for all \(n\in\mathbb{N}\), involving groupoids \(G\) and fields \(K\) with \(\text{char} K=0\) or \(\text{char} K>n\). In this case \(F\) is multiadditive, symmetric (this is the essential restriction) and satisfies \(F(x_ 1,\dots,x_ n)^ n=F(x_ 1,\dots,x_ 1)F(x_ 2,\dots,x_ 2)\dots F(x_ n,\dots,x_ n)\) (compare (3)) if, and only if, there exists a constant \(c\in K\backslash\{0\}\) and an additive map \(A:G\to K\) such that \(F(x_ 1,x_ 2,\dots,x_ n)=cA(x_ 1)A(x_ 2)\dots A(x_ n)\) (compare (2)).