5.

2 Properties of the Laplace Transform 309

▶ L a p l a c e T r a n s f o r m o f tn f ( t) .

THEOREM Suppose that f is (i) piecewise continuous on any interval 0 ≤ t ≤ A, and (ii) of expo-
5.2.4 nential order with a as specified in Theorem 5.1.6. Then for any positive integer n

{tn f (t)} = (−1)n F (n) (s), s > a. (19)

Proof
∞ ∞
dn 𝜕 n −st
dsn ∫0 ∫0
F (n) (s) = e−st f (t) dt = (e )f (t) dt
𝜕sn
∞ ∞

∫0 ∫0
= (−t)n e−st f (t) dt = (−1)n tn e−st f (t) dt

= (−1)n {tn f (t)}.

Thus
{tn f (t)} = (−1)n F (n) (s).
The operation of interchanging the order of differentiation with respect to s and integra-
tion with respect to t is justified by a theorem from advanced calculus known as Leibniz’s
rule.

COROLLARY For any integer n ≥ 0

5.2.5

{tn } =
n!
, s > 0. (20)
sn+1

Proof If f (t) = 1, F(s) = {f (t)} = 1∕s, as shown in Example 4 of Section 5.1. Then
( ) (−1)n n!
dn 1
F (n) (s) = n = n+1 .
ds s s
(−1)n n!
The result (20) follows by setting f (t) = 1 and F (n) (s) = n+1 in Eq. (19).
s

PROBLEMS

In each of Problems 1 through 10, find the Laplace transform 11. (a) Let F(s) = {f (t)}, where f (t) is piecewise continu-
of the given function. Assume that a and b are real numbers ous and of exponential order on [0, ∞). Show that
and n is a positive integer.


1. f (t) = e−2t sin 3t 2. f (t) = e3t cos 2t { t }

∫0
1
6
3. f (t) = t − 4t + 52
4. f (t) = t cos 3t f (𝜏) d𝜏 = F(s). (i)
s
5. f (t) = e−2t (t3 + 1)2 6. f (t) = t6 e5t
7. f (t) = t2 sin bt 8. f (t) = tn eat Hint: Let g1 (t) = ∫0 f (t1 ) dt1 and note that g′1 (t) = f (t).
t
at at
9. f (t) = te sin bt 10. f (t) = te cos bt Then use Theorem 5.2.2.
310 Chapter 5 The Laplace Transform

(b) Show that for n ≥ 2, 1, 0 ≤ t < 𝜋,

{

𝜋 ≤ t < ∞;
′′
23. y + 16y =
0,

{ t tn t2 }

∫ 0 ∫0 ∫0
1
… f (t1 ) dt1 ⋯ dtn = F(s). (ii) y(0) = 9, y′ (0) = 2
sn

0 ≤ t < 1,
{
t,
1 ≤ t < ∞;
′′
24. y + y =
value problem into an algebraic equation for Y = {y} in the
In each of Problems 12 through 21, transform the given initial
0,
s-domain. Then find the Laplace transform of the solution of y(0) = 0, y′ (0) = 0
the initial value problem.

0 ≤ t < 1,
{
12. y′′ + 2y′ − 2y = 0, t,
1 ≤ t < ∞;
′′
25. y + 4y =
y(0) = 2, y′ (0) = 1 1,
y(0) = 0, y′ (0) = 0
13. 9y′′ + 12y′ + 4y = 0,
y(0) = 2, y′ (0) = −1
26. A tank originally contains 640 gallons (gal) of fresh
14. y′′ + 3y′ + 2y = 0, water. Then water containing 12 pound (lb) of salt per gal-
y(0) = 3, y′ (0) = −1 lon is poured into the tank at a rate of 8 gal/min, and
the mixture is allowed to leave at the same rate. After
15. 6y′′ + 5y′ + y = 0, 15 min the salt water solution flowing into the tank suddenly
y(0) = 4, y′ (0) = 0 switches to fresh water flowing in at a rate of 8 gal/min,
while the solution continues to leave the tank at the same
16. y′′ − 2y′ + 2y = t2 et + 7, rate. Find the Laplace transform of the amount of salt y(t) in
y(0) = 1, y′ (0) = 1 the tank.
27. A damped oscillator with mass m, damping constant
17. y′′ − 5y′ − 6y = t2 + 7,
F(t) = F 0 t over the time interval 0 ≤ t ≤ T. The external force
𝛾, and spring constant k is subjected to an external force
y(0) = 1, y′ (0) = 0
is then removed at time T. Find the Laplace transform of the
18. y′′ + 4y = 3e−2t sin 2t, displacement y(t) of the mass, assuming that the oscillator is
y(0) = 2, y′ (0) = −1 initially in the equilibrium state.
28. The Laplace transforms of certain functions can be
19. y′′ + 2y′ + 5y = t cos 2t, found conveniently from their Taylor series expansions.
y(0) = 1, y′ (0) = 0 (a) Using the Taylor series for sin t,

20. y′′′ + y′′ + y′ + y = 0, ∞

∑ (−1)n t2n+1
y(0) = 4, y′ (0) = 0, y′′ (0) = −2 sin t = ,
n=0
(2n + 1)!
21. y′′′′ − 6y = te−t , y(0) = 0, y′ (0) = 0, and assuming that the Laplace transform of this series can be
y′′ (0) = 0, y′′′ (0) = 9 computed term by term, verify that

22. In Section 4.1 the differential equation for the charge on 1

L{sin t} = , s > 1.
the capacitor of the RLC circuit illustrated in Figure 5.2.1 s2 + 1
was shown to be
(b) Let
1
(sin t)∕t, t ≠ 0,
Lq′′ + Rq′ + q = e(t). (iii) {
C
f (t) =
Take the Laplace transform of Eq. (iii) to derive Eq. (12) for 1, t = 0.
Q(s) and then use Eq. (9) to derive Eq. (13) for I(s). Find the Taylor series for f about t = 0. Assuming that the
Laplace transform of this function can be computed term by
form Y(s) = {y} of the solution of the given initial value
In each of Problems 23 through 27, find the Laplace trans-
term, verify that
problem. A method of determining the inverse transform is
developed in Section 5.5. L{f (t)} = arctan(1∕s), s > 1.