Laplace Transform

The Laplace transform method is useful tool to solve differential

equations and corresponding initial and boundary value problems .

The process of solution consists of

1-Transformation of the main equation into simple equation.

2-The transformed equation is solved by al-gebric manipulation .

3-Trandformation back to obtain the solution.

Let f(t) be given function defined for t 0 , the the Laplace transform
is ,

F(s) = ∫ ( ) dt

Where F(s) is the Laplace transform of f(t) and it is denoted by ʆ f(t) and

f(t) = F(s) which is called Inverse Laplace Transform.

Example(1)

If f(t) = 1 ,Find F(s)

ʆ f(t) = ʆ (1) = ∫ dt = - =

The integral from 0 to ∞ called improper integral , it is convenient to

say ∫ = ∫ = [- + ]

Example(2)

Let f(t) = ,t ≥ 0 where a is constant , find ʆ f(t)

( ) ( )
ʆ f(t) = ∫ = ∫ = =

1
i.e ʆ =

Theorem (1)

Linearity of Laplace transform

ʆ[a f(t) +b g(t)] = aʆ f(t) + b ʆ g(t)

ʆ[a f(t) +b g(t)] = ∫ [a f(t) +b g(t)] dt

= a∫ ( ) + b∫ ( )

=aʆ f(t) + b ʆ g(t)

Example(3)

Let f(t) = cosh at , find F(s) ,

cosh at = +

ʆ cosh at = ∫ + ∫

= [ + ]

i.e ʆ cosh at =

similarly ʆ sinh at = ʆ[ -

= [ - ]=

Cosine and sine functions

By setting a =jω ,we obtain

ʆ( )= = =

2
since = s

ʆ( ) =ʆ ( ) ʆ(s ) ---- linearity theorem

equating real and imaginary terms we get ,

ʆ( )= ,ʆ(s )=

Theorem (2)

Time shifting- If the function f(t) has the Laplace transform F(s) ,and if
f(t) is time shifted by (a) such that ( ) , then

ʆ(( ) ) = F(s-a) and ( ) = F(s-a)

To prove it , replace (s-a) instead of s , we get

( )
F(s-a) = ∫ ( ) =∫ ( ) = ʆ( ( ) )

Example(4)

Damped vibration

ʆ( )= ,( )=
( ) ( )

Example(5)

If f(t) = t , find F(s)

ʆ(f(t)) = ʆ(t) = ∫ =- t + ∫

=0 + =

3
Example(6)

If f(t) = , find F(s)

ʆ(f(t)) = ʆ( ) = ∫ =- + ∫

=0 + ∫

= =

Example(7)

Find the Laplace transform of

ʆ( )=∫ =- + ∫

if n=1 , ʆ( ) = ∫ = =

if n =2 ,ʆ( ) = ∫ = ʆ( ) = =

and if n=3 , ʆ( ) = ∫ = ʆ( ) = =

i.e ʆ( )= , n is integer
( )
ʆ( )= if a is positive

( )= if a is positive integer

Transform of derivative

ʆ( ) = sʆ(f) – f(0)

ʆ( ) = ∫ ( ) =[ ( ) + s∫ ( )

4
 = - ( ) + sʆ(f)

ʆ( ) = sʆ( ) - ( )

= s[sʆ(f) - ( ) ] - ( )= ʆ(f) -s ( ) - ( )

Similarly

ʆ( )= () - ( )-s ( )- ( )

i.eʆ( )= () - ( )- ( )- ( )---------- ( )

Example(8)

If f(t) = , find ( ) from ( )

( )= ( ) =0, ( )= ( ) = 0, ( ) ( ) = 2 and
( )=2

Since ʆ( ) = 2 ʆ( ) = 2 =

ʆ( ) = ʆ( ) = ʆ( ) -s ( )- ( )= ʆ( )

ʆ( ) = 2 ʆ( ) = ʆ( ) =

i.e ʆ( ) =

Example(9)

If ( ) = , find ʆ( ( ))

( )=- , ( )=- , ( )=0, ( )=1

ʆ( )=- ʆ( ) = ʆ( ) –

i.e s = ( + ) ʆ( ) , ʆ( ) =
( )