The boundary value problem for the Helmholtz equation in a quadrant with di
fferent Robin's or impedance-type conditions is considered by the use of Va
riational methods and boundary pseudodifferential equations. The coercivene
ss of the underlying sesquilinear form in dependence of the impedance param
eters is proved. The equivalence between the boundary value problem and a s
calar uniquely solvable Wiener-Hopf-Hanker equation is obtained. Copyright
(C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.