Integral equation methods in potential theory. I

This paper makes a short study of Fredholm integral equations related to potential theory and elasticity, with a view to preparing the ground for their exploitation in the numerical solution of difficult boundary-value problems. Attention is drawn to the advantages of Fredholm ’s first equation and of Green’s boundary formula. The latter plays a fundamental and hitherto unrecognized role in the integral equation formula of biharm onic problems.