The investigation of many mathematical problems is significantly
simplified if it is possible to reduce them to equations involving
continuous or com- pletely continuous operators in function spaces. In
particular, this is true for non-linear boundary value problems and for
integro-differential and integral equations. To effect a transformation
to equations with continuous or completely continuous operators, it is
usually necessary to reduce the original problem to one involving
integral equations. Here, negative and fractional powers of those
unbounded differential operators which constitute 'principal parts' of
the original problem, are used in an essential way. Next there is chosen
or constructed a function space in which the corresponding integral
oper- ator possesses sufficiently good properties. Once such a space is
found, the original problem can often be analyzed by applying general
theorems (Fredholm theorems in the study of linear equations, fixed
point principles in the study of non-linear equations, methods of the
theory of cones in the study of positive solutions, etc.). In other
words, the investigation of many problems is effectively divided into
three independent parts: transformation to an integral equation,
investi- gation of the corresponding integral expression as an operator
acting in function spaces, and, finally, application of general methods
of functional analysis to the investigation of the linear and non-linear
equations.