We consider the initial value problem for the filtration equation in an inhomogeneous medium ρ(x)ut = ∆u, m > 1. The equation is posed in the whole space R, n ≥ 2, for 0 < t < ∞ ; ρ(x) is a positive and bounded function with a certain behaviour at infinity. We take initial data u(x, 0) = u0(x) ≥ 0, and prove that this problem is well-posed in the class of solutions with finite “energy”, that is...