Math 315 Homework 8 Solutions

§ 5.4 #13: Use the Laplace transform to solve the second-order initial value problem

y 00 + 4y = cos t, y(0) = 1, y 0 (0) = 0.

Solution: Let Y (s) = L[y](s). Taking the Laplace transform on both sides of the equation and
using the fact that

L[y 00 ](s) = s2 Y (s) − sy(0) − y 0 (0)

and
s
L[cos t](s) =
s2 + 1
we get
s
s2 Y (s) − sy(0) − y 0 (0) + 4Y (s) = .
s2 + 1
Since y(0) = 1 and y 0 (0) = 0, we get
s
s2 Y (s) − s + 4Y (s) = .
s2 + 1
Thus,
s
(s2 + 4)Y (s) = + s.
s2 +1
Dividing both sides by s2 + 4 gives
s s
Y (s) = + .
(s2 + 1)(s2 + 4) s2 + 4

In order to take the inverse Laplace transform of the first term, we need to do partial fraction
decomposition. Let
s As + B Cs + D
= 2 + 2 .
(s2 2
+ 1)(s + 4) s +1 s +4

Then
s (As + B)(s2 + 4) + (Cs + D)(s2 + 1)
= .
(s2 2
+ 1)(s + 4) (s2 + 1)(s2 + 4)

Hence,

s = As3 + 4As + Bs2 + 4B + Cs3 + Cs + Ds2 + D

= (A + C)s3 + (B + D)s2 + (4A + C)s + 4B + D.
Equating coefficients, we get the following system of equations:

A+C =0
B+D =0
4A + C = 1
4B + D = 0

From the first equation, we get A = −C. Inserting A = −C into the third equation gives −4C +C =
1, which implies that C = −1/3. Hence, A = −C = 1/3. Now, from the second equation, we see
that B = −D. Inserting this into the fourth equation, we get −4D + D = 0. So −3D = 0. So
D = 0. Hence B = −D = 0. Therefore,
s 1/3 −1/3
= 2 + .
(s2 + 1)(s2 + 4) s + 1 s2 + 4
So
1 s 1 s s
Y (s) = · − · 2 + 2
3 s2
+1 3 s +4 s +4
1 s 2 s
= · 2 + · 2 .
3 s +1 3 s +4
Taking the inverse Laplace transform, we get
1 2
y(t) = cos t + cos 2t.
3 3
§ 5.5 #23: Find the inverse Laplace transform of
e−2s
F (s) = .
s2 − 2s − 3
Create a piecewise definition for your solution that doesn’t use the Heaviside function.

Solution: Note

s2 − 2s − 3 = (s − 3)(s + 1).

Hence, we can write F (s) as

1
F (s) = e−2s .
(s − 3)(s + 1)
Now we perform partial fraction decomposition. Let
1 A B
= + .
(s − 3)(s + 1) s−3 s+1
Then
1 A(s + 1) + B(s − 3)
= .
(s − 3)(s + 1) (s − 3)(s + 1)
It follows that

1 = As + A + Bs − 3B
= (A + B)s + A − 3B.

Equating coefficients gives

A + B = 0, A − 3B = 1.

The first equation gives A = −B. Substituting this into the second equation, we get −4B = 1 and
so B = −1/4. Thus, A = −B = 1/4. Hence,
1 1/4 1/4
= − .
(s − 3)(s + 1) s−3 s+1
So
1 −2s 1 1 1
F (s) = e · − e−2s · .
4 s−3 4 s+1
Taking the inverse Laplace transform gives

f (t) = L−1 (F (s))

   
1 −1 −2s 1 1 −1 −2s 1
= L e · − L e ·
4 s−3 4 s+1
1 1
= H(t − 2)e3(t−2) − H(t − 2)et−2
4 4
1  
= H(t − 2) e3(t−2) − et−2
4
where we have used the facts that
 
1
L−1 = eat ,
s−a
L−1 {e−cs F (s)}(t) = H(t − c)f (t − c).

Now our last goal is to rewrite the solution so that it doesn’t contain any Heaviside functions. Using
the definition of the Heaviside function, we get
(
0 if t < 2,
f (t) = 1 3(t−2) t−2


4 e −e if t ≥ 2.

§ 5.6 #4: Find the unit impulse response to the system

y 00 + 4y = δ(t), y(0) = y 0 (0) = 0.

Solution: The unit impulse response is just the solution. Let Y (s) = L{y}(s). Note

L {y 00 + 4y} = s2 Y (s) − sy(0) − y 0 (0) + 4Y (s)

= (s2 + 4)Y (s)
and L {δ(t)} = 1. Thus, taking the Laplace transform of both sides of the differential equation
gives

(s2 + 4)Y (s) = 1.

Dividing both sides by s2 + 4, we get

1 1 2
Y (s) = = · 2 .
s2 +4 2 s +4
Now we take the inverse Laplace transform and use the fact that
 a 
L−1 2 = sin(at)
s + a2
to get
1 −1  2  1
y(t) = L−1 (Y (s)) = L = sin(2t).
2 s2 + 4 2
§ 5.6 #6: Find the unit impulse response to the system

y 00 + 4y 0 + 5y = δ(t), y(0) = y 0 (0) = 0.

Solution: Let Y (s) = L{y}(s). Note

L {y 00 + 4y 0 + 5y} = s2 Y (s) − sy(0) − y 0 (0) + 4 (sY (s) − y(0)) + 5Y (s)

= (s2 + 4s + 5)Y (s).

Thus, taking the Laplace transform of both sides of the differential equation gives

(s2 + 4s + 5)Y (s) = 1.

So
1
Y (s) = .
s2 + 4s + 5
We complete the square in the denominator to get
1
Y (s) =
(s + 2)2 + 1

Hence,

y(t) = e−2t sin(t).

§ 5.7 #18: Use Theorem 7.6 (do not use partial fraction decomposition) to find the inverse Laplace
transform of
1
.
s2 − 3s
Solution: Theorem 7.6 says the following:

L(f ∗ g)(s) = L(f )(s)L(g)(s).

Thus, we get that

1 1 1
= ·
s2 − 3s s s−3
= L(1)L e3t

= L(1 ∗ e3t )

and so
 
1
L−1 2
= 1 ∗ e3t
s − 3s
Z t
= 1 · e3(t−u) du
0
Z t
= e3t e−3u du
0
1 t
= − e3t e−3u 

3 0
1 3t −3t

=− e e −1
3
1 3t 1
= e − .
3 3