Linear differential equations both ordinary and partial are often studied by means of Green's functions. One reason for this is that linearity permits superposition of solutions. A Green's function describes the "effect" of a point source, and the description of line, surface, or volume sources is achieved by superposing, that is to say, integrating, this function over the source distribution.

For equations with constant coefficients the use of integral transforms permits the calculation of such source functions in the form of integrals. Only in the simplest cases is explicit evaluation by elementary functions possible, and this has perforce led to the use of asymptotic estimates, which so thoroughly pervade the domain of applied mathematics.