Euler generalized d'Alembert's solution to a wide class of linear hyperbolic equations with two independent variables. He introduced in 1769 the quantities that were rediscovered by Laplace in 1773 and became known as the Laplace invariants. The present paper is devoted to an extension of Euler's method to linear parabolic equations with two independent variables. The new method allows one to derive an explicit formula for the general solution of a wide class of parabolic equations. In particular, the general solution of the Black-Scholes equation is obtained. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.