Preface. From the preface to the Russian edition. Introduction. I: Properties of exact solutions of nondegenerate and degenerate ordinary differential equations. II: Direct methods for constructing exact solutions of semilinear parabolic equations. III: Singularities of nonsmooth solutions to quasilinear parabolic and hyperbolic equations. IV: Wave asymptotic solutions of degenerate semilinear parabolic and hyperbolic equations. V: Finite asymptotic solutions of degenerate equations. VI: Models for mass transfer processes. VII: The flow around a plate. References. Appendix: Justification of asymptotic solutions; S.A. Vakulenko.