If, in a given solution of the boundary layer equations, the position of the wall is varied, then additional solutions of the boundary layer equations may be deduced. The theorem considers the nature of such solution, for the general case of time-dependent three-dimensional compressible flow.

Applications of the theorem arise in several different fields, and it is shown that useful quantitative results can often be obtained with the minimum of calculation. In this paper, chief attention is focused on the case of a rotating circular cylinder, and explicit formulae are developed for the skin friction, valid for sufficiently low rotational speeds. The important results which the theorem gives for slip flow have been noted by previous extenions to these previous treatments are made. Other applications of the theorem are briefly mentioned.