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Laplace transform 1. L(eat)=

𝑠−𝑎
𝑛!
2. L(eat tn)=
The Laplace transform method is a powerful method for (𝑠−𝑎)𝑛+1
𝑐
solving linear ODEs and corresponding initial value 3. L(eat sin ct)=
(𝑠−𝑎)2 +𝑐 2
problems, as well as systems of ODEs arising in 4. L(eat cos ct)=
𝑠−𝑎
engineering. The process of solution consists of three (𝑠−𝑎)2 +𝑐 2
𝑐
steps 5. L(eat sinh ct)=
(𝑠−𝑎)2 −𝑐 2
𝑠−𝑎
6. L(eat cosh ct)=
(𝑠−𝑎)2 −𝑐 2
1. The given 𝑂𝐷𝐸 is transformed into an algebraic
2. The subsidiary equation is solved by purely
3. Change of scale property
algebraic manipulations. 1 𝑠
3. The solution in Step 2 is transformed back, If L{f(t)}= F(s), then L{f(at)}= 𝑓 ̅( )
𝑎 𝑎
resulting in the solution of the given problem.
Thus solving an 𝑂𝐷𝐸 is reduced to an algebraic problem. 4. Transforms of derivatives
This switching from operation of calculus to algebraic 1. if f’(t) be continuous and L{f(t)} =
operations on transforms in called operational method. 𝑓(̅ 𝑠), then
Laplace transform method is particularly useful in L{f’(t)}= s𝑓 ̅(𝑠) − 𝑓(0)
problems where the mechanical or electrical driving force 2. if f’(t) and its first (n-1) derivative be
has discontinuities, is impulsive or is a complicated continuous, then
periodic function, not merely a sine or cosine. Another L{fn(t)}= sn𝑓 ̅(𝑠) − 𝑠 𝑛−1 f(0)-sn-2f’(0)-…-fn-1(0)
operational method is the Fourier transform.
5. Transforms of integrals
Definition If L{f(t)} = 𝑓 ̅(𝑠),
The laplace transformation of function of t f(t) is defined 1 1
then L{∫0 𝑓(𝑢) 𝑑𝑢}= 𝑓(̅ 𝑠)
𝑠
by
∞
L{f(t)} = ∫0 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 𝑓〈𝑡)𝑑𝑡 6. Multiplication by tn
Provided that the integral exits, s is a parameter which If L{f(t)} = 𝑓 ̅(𝑠),
may be a real or complex number. L{f(t)} being clearly a 𝑑𝑛
Then L{tnf(t)}=(-1)n [𝑓(̅ 𝑠)]
̅
function of s is briefly written as F(s) or 𝑓(𝑠). 𝑑𝑠 𝑛

We can write , L{f(t)}= F(s),

And the inverse laplace transform of F(s) is f(t). the 7. Division by t
symbol L is called laplace transformation operator. If L{f(t)} = 𝑓 ̅(𝑠),
1 ∞
F(t)=L-1{ 𝑓 ̅(𝑠)} Then L{ f(t)}=∫𝑠 𝑓 ̅(𝑠). 𝑑𝑠 ,
𝑡
only if there exists a integral
Some of the transforms
Following are the transforms of the elementary functions Inverse of Laplace – Method of partial fractions
1
1. L(a)= To find the inverse transform , the given function of s is
𝑠
𝑛! expressed in partial fractions which will be then
2. L(tn)= , where n= 0,1,2,3…
𝑠 𝑛+1 recognizable as the flowing standard forms
1
3. L(eat)= 1.
1
L-1 [ ] = 1
𝑠−𝑎
𝑎 𝑠
4. L(sin at)= 1
𝑠 2 +𝑎2 2. L-2 [ ] = 𝑒 𝑎𝑡
𝑎 𝑠−𝑎
5. L(cos at)= 1 𝑡 𝑛−1
𝑠 2 +𝑎2 3. L-1 [ 𝑛 ] = (𝑛−1)!
𝑎 𝑠
6. L(sinh at)=
𝑠 2 −𝑎2 1 𝑡 𝑛−1
7. L(cosh at)=
𝑎 4. L-1 [ ] = (𝑛−1)!
(𝑠−𝑎)𝑛
𝑠 2 −𝑎2
1 1
5. -1
L [ ] = sin at
𝑠 2 +𝑎2 𝑎
Properties of Laplace transforms 𝑠
6. L-1 [ 2 ] =cos at
𝑠 2 +𝑎
1 1
1. Linearity property 7. L-1 [ ] = sinh at
𝑠 2 −𝑎2 𝑎
If a,b , c be any constants and f,g,h any function of t, then 𝑠 1
8. L-1 [ 2 2 ] = 𝑐𝑜𝑠h at
𝑠 −𝑎 𝑎
L[af(t)+bg(t)-ch(t)]= a L[f(t)] + bL[g(t)]-cL[h(t)] 1 1
9. -1
L [ ] = 𝑒 𝑎𝑡 sin 𝑐𝑡
(𝑠−𝑎)2 +𝑐 2 𝑐
2. First shifting property 𝑠−𝑎 𝑎𝑡 cos 𝑐𝑡
10. L-1 [ 2] = 𝑒
(𝑠−𝑎)2 +𝑐
If, L{f(t)}= F(s), 𝑠 1
̅
Or, L{f(t)}= 𝑓(𝑠) 11. L-1 [ ]= 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑡
(𝑠 2 −𝑎2 )2 2𝑎
Then, we get 𝑠 1
12. L-1 [ 2 2 2 ] = (sin 𝑎𝑡 −
̅ − 𝑎)} (𝑠 −𝑎 ) 2𝑎2
L {eatf(t)}= 𝑓(𝑠
𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑎𝑡)
Some of the useful results

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Solving partial fractions
1. For (s-a) non-repeated linear factor in the
𝐵 4. The inverse Laplace transform of 1/(𝑠 2 + 𝑠) is
denominator, the partial fraction will be .
(𝑠−𝑎)
2. For (s-a)r non-repeated linear factor in the (A) 1 + 𝑒 𝑡 (B) 1 − 𝑒 𝑡
𝑏1
denominator, the partial fraction will be + (C) 1 − 𝑒 −𝑡 (D) 1 + 𝑒 −𝑡
(𝑠−𝑎)
𝑏2 𝑏3
+ + .. 1
(𝑠−𝑎)2 (𝑠−𝑎)3 5. The Laplace transform of a function 𝑓(𝑡) is .
𝑠 2 (𝑠+1)
3. For quadratic factor (𝑠2 + 𝑎𝑠 + 𝑏), the form will
𝐴𝑠+𝑏 The function 𝑓(𝑡) is
be .
s2+as+b
4. For quadratic factor (𝑠2 + 𝑎𝑠 + 𝑏)z, the form will (A) 𝑡 − 1 + 𝑒 −𝑡 (B) 𝑡 + 1 + 𝑒 −𝑡
𝐴1 𝑠+𝑏1 𝐴2 𝑠+𝑏2 𝐴3 𝑠+𝑏3 (C) −1 + 𝑒 −𝑡 (D) 2𝑡 + 𝑒 𝑡
be + + ……
(s2+as+b) (s2+as+b)2 (s2+as+b)3

6. The inverse Laplace transform of the function

Unit step Function 𝐹(𝑠) =
1
is given by
𝑠(𝑠+1)
(A) 𝑓(𝑡) = sin 𝑡 (B) 𝑓(𝑡) = 𝑒 −𝑡 sin 𝑡
When we cannot or unable to determine the inverse
(C) 𝑓(𝑡) = 𝑒 −𝑡 (D) 𝑓(𝑡) = 1 − 𝑒 −𝑡
transform from the derived formula, we use unit step
function or Heaviside’s unit function.
Answers:
The unit step function is defined as
0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡 < 𝑎 1 B
U(t-a)={ ,
1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡 ≥ 𝑎
2 B
Here ‘a’ is always considered positive
3 A
4 C
Second shifting property 5 A
6 D
if
F(t)=L-1{ 𝑓 ̅(𝑠)},
Then,
̅
L{f(t-a) x u(t-a)} = e-as𝑓(𝑠)

Periodic functions
If f(t), is a periodic function with period T, i.e. f(t+ T) =
f(t), then

𝑇
∫ 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 𝑓(𝑡).𝑑𝑡
L{f(t)}= 0
1−𝑒 −𝑠𝑇

Questions

1. Laplace transform of the function sin 𝜔𝑡 is

𝑠 𝜔
(A) (B)
𝑠 2 +𝜔2 𝑠 2 +𝜔2

𝑠 𝜔
(C) (D)
𝑠 2 −(𝑗 𝑠 2 −𝜔2

2. A delayed unit step function is defined as

0,𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡<𝑎
𝑈(𝑡 − 𝑎) = {1,𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑙≥𝑎 Its Laplace transform is

𝑒 −𝑎𝑠
(A) 𝑎𝑒 −𝑎𝑠 (B)
𝑠

𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑒 𝑎𝑠
(C) (D)
𝑠 𝑎

3. If 𝐹(𝑠) is the Laplace transform of function 𝑓(𝑡) ,

𝑡
then Laplace transform of ∫0 𝑓 (𝜏)𝑑𝜏 is
1 1
(A) 𝐹(𝑠) (B) 𝐹(𝑠) − 𝑓(𝑂)
𝑠 𝑠

(C) 𝑠𝐹(𝑠) − 𝑓(𝑂) (𝐷) ∫ 𝐹 (𝑠)𝑑𝑠

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