Higher Conditional Symmetry and Reduction of Initial Value Problems

We give the exposition of a generalized symmetry approach toreduction of initial value problems for nonlinear evolutionequations in one spatial variable. Using this approach we classifythe initial value problems for third-order evolution equationsthat admit reduction to Cauchy problems for systems of twoordinary differential equations. These reductions are shown tocorrespond to higher conditional symmetries admitted by thecorresponding nonlinear evolution equations.