On integral and differential factorization methods (Q2477518)

We present a comparative analysis of two factorization methods used in applied mathematical physics and continuum mechanics. We justify the necessity of their separation into integral and differential factorization methods, depending on the problems they are applied to. For the differential factorization method, a new algorithm for its application to boundary value problems is described that is a generalization of the results obtained in [Dokl.\ Math.\ 72, No.\,1, 630--633 (2005; Zbl 1129.35302)]. It is shown that the method reduces boundary value problems for systems of partial differential equations to an analogue of a single equation.