Translation Formula.: LT. Laplace Transform
Translation Formula.: LT. Laplace Transform
Translation Formula.: LT. Laplace Transform
Laplace Transform
1. Translation formula. The usual L.T. formula for translation on the t-axis is
� � � �
(1) L u(t − a)f (t − a) = e−as F (s), where F (s) = L f (t) , a > 0.
This formula is useful for computing the inverse Laplace transform of e−as F (s), for example.
On the other hand, as written above it is not immediately applicable to computing the L.T.
of functions having the form u(t − a)f (t). For this you should use instead this form of (1):
� � � �
(2) L u(t − a)f (t) = e−as L f (t + a) , a > 0.
t2 + 4t + 3. � So by (2),
2 4 3
L u(t − 1)(t2 + 2t) = e−s L(t2 + 4t + 3) = e−s
� �
+ 2+ .
s3 s s
ea s e−2 (2s + 3)
Solutions. a) e−as b) −e−�s 2
c) e−2s
s−1 s +1 (s + 1)2
1
2 18.03 NOTES
In this form of the solution, the following terminology is often used. Let p(D) = D 2 +aD +b
be the differential operator; then we write
1
W (s) = the transfer function for p(D),
s2
+ as + b
� �
w(t) = L−1 W (s) the weight function for p(D),
G(t, u) = w(t − u) the Green’s function for p(D).
The important thing to note is that each of these depends only on the operator, not on the
forcing function r(t); once they are calculated, the solution (3) to the IVP can be written
down immediately as the definite integral there, and used for a variety of different r(t).
The weight function w(t) can be thought of as the unique solution to the IVP
in the second equation, �(t) is the Dirac delta function. Both IVP’s model (for a, b > 0) a
damped spring-mass system which is initially at rest, but whose mass is given a unit impulse
at time zero, say by a sharp blow.
It is an easy exercise to show that w(t) is the solution to both IVP’s. As an example of
Green’s functions, see the last few Laplace Transform exercises (in Section 3D).
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