LAUSR

The general solution of the multiplicative symmetric functional equation $$f(f(x)y)=f(xf(y))$$ f ( f ( x ) y ) = f ( x f ( y ) ) , in abelian groups, was given by Dhombres. But it is still an open problem in non-abelian groups and abelian quasi-groups. In this paper, by using a new approach introduced by the author, we give a vast class of its solutions in arbitrary semigroups. It also works for non-abelian groups, and gives its general solution in abelian groups with a different representation from Dhombres’s solution. Also, we introduce some related equations and closed relationships between decomposer type and multiplicative symmetric equations. It is worth noting that the new approach and methods can be used for studying the equation on magmas (groupoids) as the most general algebraic structures for the topic. At last we pose a conjecture that guesses the general solution in arbitrary groups (and possibly semigroups).