Problems on associative functions (Q2386096)

A function \(F:I \times I \to I\), where \(I\) is a real interval, is said to be associative if the following relation holds: \[ F(F(x,y),z)=F(x,F(y,z)), \quad x,y,z \in I. \] A special class of associative functions, the so-called \(t\)-norms, appears when studying probabilistic metric spaces. A \(t\)-norm is a function \(T\) from the unit square to the unit interval, such that for all \(x,y,z,w \in [0,1]\), \[ \begin{aligned} &T(x,1)=x, \tag{a}\\ &T(x,y)=T(y,x), \tag{b}\\ &T(x,y) \leq T(z,w) \;\text{ whenever }\;x\leq z, \;y\leq w, \tag{c}\\ &T(T(x,y),z)=T(x,T(y,z)).\tag{d} \end{aligned} \] The authors studied extensively probabilistic metric spaces [see the book of \textit{B. Schweizer} and \textit{A. Sklar}, Probabilistic metric spaces, North-Holland Series in Probability and Applied Mathematics. New York-Amsterdam-Oxford: North-Holland. (1983; Zbl 0546.60010)] and consequently \(t\)-norms and related notions. In the present survey paper, after the presentation of the basic definitions, they propose 21 problems concerning associative functions. The paper contains a rich bibliography on the subject.