The boundary layer similarity flow past an impermeable flat plate, driven by a power law velocity profile U = gamma y(alpha), y -> infinity is considered and power series solutions of the momentum equation, valid for all the allowed range of the parameter a, are presented. The convergence radius of the proposed solutions is estimated and a comparison with numerical solutions is reported. The boundary layer energy equation is then considered for all the wall temperature profiles that admits similarity solutions and power series solutions are given for the full range of the wall temperature profile parameter n. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.