Pseudovarieties, generalized varieties and similarly described classes (Q799720)

For a class of algebras, H(K), S(K), P(K), \(P_ f(K)\), Pow(K) and E(K) denote respectively the classes of homomorphic images, subalgebras, direct products, finite direct products, direct powers, and elementary subalgebras of members of K. The classical theorem of \textit{G. Birkhoff} [Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 31, 433-454 (1935; Zbl 0013.00105)] shows that K is a variety if and only if \(K=HSP(K)\). This paper is concerned with the relationship between pseudovarieties, which are classes of finite algebras closed under H, S and \(P_ f\), and generalised varieties, which are classes of algebras satisfying one of the following four equivalent conditions: 1. K is closed under H, S, \(P_ f\) and Pow; 2. \(K=HSP_ fPow(K)\); 3. K is the union of some directed family of varieties; 4. there exists a filter F over E such that for all algebras A, \(A\in K\leftrightarrow Id(A)\in F\) (where Id(A) denotes the set of identities true in A). In fact, it is shown that a pseudovariety consists precisely of the finite members of some generalised variety. Relationships between these and similar classes of algebras and systems of identities are also investigated and a table of results provided.