Note: L{(tn)} =K(n!

/S n+1)

The use of Laplace transforms is a powerful tool and has applications in numerous fields of
technology. The standard methods of solving second-order differential equations with constant
d2y dy
coefficients e.g a 2
b cy F ( x ) are either by substitution of an assumed solution or by
dx dx
using operator D methods. In either case the general solution is first ascertained and the arbitrary
constants evaluated by insertion of the initial conditions. A much neater and less tedious methods is
by the use of laplace transforms ,in which the solution of the differential equation is obtained
largely by algebraic processes .Furthermore ,the initial conditions are involved from the early stages
so that the determination of the particular solution is considerably shortened.

A further important advantage is that the method of laplace transforms enables us to deal with the
solutions where the function is discontinuous; classical methods necessarily require the function to
be continuous. The laplace transform of a function F(t) is denoted by L{F(t)} and is defined as the
st
integral of F( t ) dt between the limits t=0 and t = i.e

L{F(t)}= F
0
(t ) st dt

The constant parameter s is assumed to be positive and large enough to ensure that the product
F( t ) st converges to zero as t for most common func ons F(t).

In determining the transform of any function ,you will appreciate that the limits are substituted for t,
so that the result will be a function of s

Therefore, L{F(t)}= F
0
(t ) st dt =f(s)

LAPLACE TRANSFORMATION OF IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS (First principles)

1.Step function; f(t)=KU(t)= U(t) =1 t=1

=0 t0

K st t K K

st st
L{KU(t)} = ( KU ( t ) ) dt K dt l t 0 (0 1)
0 0
s s s

i.e step function( or constant) of magnitude K is simply K(1/s)

2. Ramp function; f(t) =K t

1

st
L{K(t)} = Kt dt let u=t; du=dt and dv= st dt ; v st
0
s

udv uvl0 vdu

0 0
Note: L{(tn)} =K(n!/S n+1)

Note; L {K(tn)} =K(n!/s n+1)

st
3. The function f(t) =sine( wt); f (t) = sin( wt ) dt where w= freq.(rad/time)
0

iwt iwt
But using sin(w t) = (Eulers identity)
2i

1 ( s iw ) t 1 ( s iw ) t ( s iw ) t
L{sin(wt)} = (
( s iw ) t
)dt [ ]0
0
2i 2i s iw s iw

1 1 1 1 s iw s iw 1 2iw w
= ( ) ( ) ( 2 ) 2
2i s iw s iw 2i s w
2 2
2i s w 2
s w2

s iwt iwt
Q. show that L{cos(wt)}= 2 i.e cos(wt) =
s w2 2i

4. Exponential; f(t) = at

1 ( s a )t 1 1
L L[
at
] ( at ) st dt ( s a ) t dt l0 (0 1)
0 0
sa sa sa

5.Exponential multiplied by time; f(t) =t at

1 ( s a )t
L[t
at
] (t ) dt t ( s a ) t dt
at st
let u=t;du=dt and dv= ( s a ) t dt ; v
0 0
sa

udv uvl0 vdu

0 0

t ( s a ) t ( s a )t 1 1 1
t l0
( s a )t
dt dt (0 0) ( s a ) t l0 (0 1)
0
sa 0
sa (s a) 2
(s a) 2
( s a )2

w
(A ) Generally L{tn [ at ] n!/((s+a) n+1) also,L[ at sin( wt )]
( s a )2 w2

(B) Alternative method, iat cos( wt ) i sin( wt )

st st st
L ( ) (cos at i sin at ) dt cos at dt i sin at dt
iat

0 0 0
Note: L{(tn)} =K(n!/S n+1)

1 s ia s ia
L ( iat ) 2 2 2 L[cos at ] iL[sin at ] equating real & imaginery
s ia s a 2
s a 2
s a2
parts,we have

s a
L (cos at ) ; L(sin at ) 2
s a
2 2
s a2

6. Impulse(Dirac delta function ,(t));

He impulse function is an infinitely high spike that has zero width and an area of one. One way to
d
define (t) is to call it the derivative of the unit step function (t) = u(t ) where u(t) =lim()(1-
dt
t )
d d
lim( )(1 at ) lim( ) L[ (1 t )] lim( ) L[ t ]
L[(t)] = L[
dt dt


=lim( ) ( ) dt lim( )
t st ( s ) t
dt lim( ) (0 1)
0 0
s
1
= lim( ( ) lim( ) 1
s 1
s

INITIAL VALUE THEOREM lim (t 0) f (t ) lim( s )[ sf ( s )]

( s 1)( s 1)
If f(s)= ; find f(t=0) using the initial value theorem
s( s 3)( s 4)
solution
( s 1)( s 1)
lim(t (t 0) f (t ) lim(t )[ sf ( s )] lim( s ) s[ s ( s 3)( s 4) ]

( s 1)( s 1) s2 1
Lim(s ( s )[ ] lim(s )[ 2 ]
( s 3)( s 4) s s 12

1
1
Lim(s )[ s 2 ] lim( s )[ 1 0 ] 1
1 12
1 2 1 0 0
s s

FINAL VALUE THEOREM..lim (t ) f (t ) lim( s 0)[ sf ( s )]

s4
If f(t)= . Find the value of f(t) as t
s( s 1)( s 2)( s 3)

solution

s4
lim (t ) f (t ) lim( s 0)[ sf ( s )] lim( s 0) s[ ]
s( s 1)( s 2)( s 3)
Note: L{(tn)} =K(n!/S n+1)

s4 04 4
=lim ( s 0)[ ] lim(s 0)[ ]
( s 1)( s 2)( s 3) (0 1)(0 2)(0 3) 6

Translated function

If the function f(t) in Fig(a) is delayed by to second or advanced by to seconds, we have Figs(b) and
(c) respectively.The relationship among the three curves is

f(t+to) = f(t) =f(t-to)

curve in (c) curve in(a) curve in (b)

f (t to) dt f (t to) st ( sto sto )d (t to) trying to make all terms uniform
st
L[f(t-to)] =
0 0

f (t to) s ( t to ) d (t to) sto f ( ) s d sto f ( s ) .since dt = d(t-to) d

Similarly , L[f(t+to) = sto f (s )

Unit pulse function

The function in Fig(d) of height 1/A and width A has area=(1/A)(A)=1 . This function called unit
pulse function is defined as

0 <0
A(t) ={ 1/ 0< <
0 >

It can also be described as the difference of two step functions of equal size 1/A. The first step
function occurs at time t=0 while the second is delayed by A units of time. Thus if

0 <0
First step function; f1(t)={ >0

0 <
Second step function; f 2(t)= { }=f1(t-A )
1/ >

Then, A(t) =unit pulse of duration A=f1(t)-f2(t)=f1(t)-f1(t-A)

1 1 1 1
Laplace transforming, L[A(t) ]=L[f1(t)-f1(t-A)]= L[fi(t)]- sA [f1(t)]= ( ) sA ( )
A s A s
Note: L{(tn)} =K(n!/S n+1)

1 1 sA 1
(1 sA )
A s As

Unit impulse function

If the duration of a unit pulse function is allowed to shrink ,approaching zero ,while the height 1/A
approaches infinity ,the area under the curve remains always equal to 1. i.e lim(A0)(A.1/A)=1

For that impulse function=unit pulse as width approaches zero i.e A(t) = lim(A0) A(t)

Laplace, L[A(t)]=L[lim(Ao) A(t] =
0
st
lim(A0) A(t) dt lim(A 0) A(t) st dt =
0
sA sA
1 1 s
lim( A 0)[ ] ,using the LHospitals rule =lim(A0) [ ] 1 ; i.e differentiate the
A s s
top & bottom separately and substitute the limit value(LHospitals rule)

Q.(a) what is the laplace transform of the function f(t)=5cos4t+ t +5t

(b)what is the laplace transform of the vector function

F(t)={a sint+ b ct

A+bt

Cost+b sin(t-td)