UNIT-I

LAPLACE TRANSFORM
Topic Learning Objectives:

Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to:

 Understand the existence, uniqueness and basic concepts of Laplace transform (LT).
 Determine the Laplace transform of elementary functions.
 Describe the properties of the Laplace transform such as linearity, time shifting, scaling,
differentiation in the s-domain, division by t, differentiation and integration in the time domain.
 Develop the Laplace transform of periodic functions, Heaviside (unit step) function,
Dirac Delta function and its applications.

Transforms are used in Science and Engineering as a tool for simplifying analysis and look at
data from different angle.

The Laplace Transform method is a technique for solving linear differential equations with initial
conditions. It is commonly used to solve electrical circuit and systems problems.

The purpose of Laplace transformation is to solve different differential equations. There are a
number of methods to solve homogeneous and non-homogeneous equations but Laplace
transform comes in to use when to solve the equations that cannot be solved by any of the regular
methods developed.

The Laplace transform converts integral and differential equations into algebraic equations.
Although it is a different and beneficial alternative of variations of parameters and undetermined
coefficients, the transform is most advantageous for input force functions that are piecewise,
periodic or pulsive.

In simple words, Laplace transform converts time domain signal into frequency domain, which is
depicted more clearly in below figure:

Laplace transform
Time Frequency
domain domain

Laplace transform Inverse Laplace transform

Examples:

Third Semester-MAT231BT 1 Department of Mathematics

 d 2 y dy
The problem of solving the equation   y  x with conditions y(0) = y (0) = 1 is an
dx 2 dx
initial value problem.
d2y dy
The problem of solving the equation 3 2  2  y  cos x with y (1) =1, y (2) =3 is called
dx dx
boundary value problem.
Laplace transform is essentially employed to solve initial value problems. This technique is of
great utility in applications dealing with mechanical systems and electric circuits. It possesses a
powerful set of properties for analysis of signals and systems. Besides, this technique may also
be employed to find the solution of certain integral.
The transform is named after the French Mathematician Pierre-Simon, marquis de Laplace (1749
– 1827).

Pierre-Simon, marquis de Laplace was a prominent French mathematical physicist and

astronomer of the 19th century, who made crucial contributions in the arena of planetary motion
by applying Sir Isaac Newton’s theory of gravitation to the entire solar system. His work
regarding the theory of probability and statistics is considered pioneering and has influenced a
whole new generation of mathematicians. Laplace heavily contributed in the development of
differential equations, difference equations, probability and statistics. His work was important to
the development of engineering, mathematics, statistics, physics, astronomy and philosophy.
Definition:
Let ( ) be a real valued function defined for all  0 and s be a parameter, real or complex.
Then the integral

∫ ( )

Is said to be the Laplace transform of , provided the integral converges and is denoted by
* ( )+
Thus * ( )+ ∫ ( ) (1)
Observe that the value of the integral on the right hand side of (1) depends on s. Hence L {f (t)}
is a function of s denoted by F(s) or f (s ) .

Thus * ( )+ ( ) (2)

Third Semester-MAT231BT 2 Department of Mathematics

In relation (2), ( ) is called the Inverse Laplace transform of F(s) and is denoted by
, ( )-.
Thus , ( )- ( ). (3)
Suppose f (t) is defined as follows:
( )
( ) { ( )
( )
Note that f (t) is piecewise continuous. The Laplace transform of ( ). is defined as

L {f (t)} =  e st f(t)
0

a b 
=  e st f1(t) dt   e st f 2(t) dt   e st f 3(t) dt
0 a b

Note:
In a practical situation the variable t represents time and s represents frequency. Hence the
Laplace transform converts time domain into the frequency domain.

Uses of Laplace Transformation in Control System

Laplace transform is useful mathematical tool to explain the integrals in the interval from 0 to
infinity. It is also used for analyzing and designing the analog signals.

Also we know that control systems mainly deals with analog systems. So usually it is obligatory
to take integral from 0 to infinity unless initial conditions are not provided. Laplace transform
converts time domain into frequency domain which makes evaluation easy.

We can get the time response of the given system by taking inverse Laplace transform that is
ratio of Laplace of output to the Laplace of input.

Examples:

1. Find L {f (t)}given ( ) {

Solution:
 3 
L{f (t)} =  e st f(t)dt   e st tdt   4e st dt.
0 0 3

1 1
Integrating the terms on the RHS to get L{f (t)} = e 3 s  2 ( 1  e 3 s )
s s

2. Find L{f (t)} given ( ) {

Third Semester-MAT231BT 3 Department of Mathematics

Solution:
π  π

L{f (t)} =  e st f(t)dt   e st f(t)dt   e st sin 2t dt

0 π 0

π
 e st 
=  2  s sin2t  2cos2t  2 2 1  e πs  
s  4 0 s  4
Existence and Uniqueness of Laplace Transform
The sufficient condition for existence of Laplace transform is based on the concepts of Piecewise
continuous function and exponential order.

Piecewise Continuous function

If an interval [a, b] can be partitioned by a finite number of points a0  t 0  t1  t 2  ......t n  b
such that
(i) f is continuous on each sub interval ti , ti 1  .

(ii) lim f (t ) <∞  i =0,1,2,3,.., n-1

t ti 

(iii) lim f (t ) <∞  i =1,2,3,…, n.

t  t i 1 

Then the function f is piecewise continuous or f is piecewise continuous on [a, b] if it is

continuous there except for a finite number of jump discontinuities.
Examples:
1. The function defined by

f (t) = { is piecewise continuous in [0, 3].

Third Semester-MAT231BT 4 Department of Mathematics

 2. The function defined by

f (t) = { is not a piecewise continuous in [0, 3].

Exponential order
A function f (t) is said to be of exponential order c, if there exist constants M and c such
that| ( )| for sufficiently large t.

Example:
Any Polynomial is of exponential order. This is clear from the fact that
∑ , but f(t) = is not of exponential order.

Sufficient condition for the existence of Laplace transform

Let f(t) be a piece-wise continuous function in [0, ) and is of exponential order then Laplace
transform F(s) of f(t) exists for s > c, where c is a real number that depends on f(t).

Uniqueness of Laplace transform

Let f (t) and g (t) be continuous functions such that F(s) = G(s) for all s > k then f (t) = g (t) at all
t.

Third Semester-MAT231BT 5 Department of Mathematics

Transform of elementary functions
1. Let ‘a’ be a constant then
 
L (e ) =  e e dt   e (sa)t dt
at  st at

0 0


e (sa)t 1
=  ,
 (s  a) 0 s  a
1
Thus L (eat )  ,s  a
sa
1
In particular when a = 0 to get L(1)  , s  0 .
s
 eat  e at  1  st at
L( cosh at)  L  =  e e  e at dt  
 2  20

=
2 0
e 
1 (sa)t
 e (sa)t dt 

1  e (sa)t e (sa)t  s
L( cosh at)      2
2   (s  a)  (s  a)  0 s  a 2

s
Thus, L ( cosh at) = ,s > |a| ,
s  a2
2

 e at  e  at  a
L ( sinh at) = L   2 ,s > |a|
 s a
2
 2
a
Thus, L ( sinh at) = ,s >|a |
s  a2
2


2. L ( sin at) =  e st sin at dt
0

Suppose s > 0 then integrate by using the formula

e ax
 e sin bxdx 
ax
a sin bx  b cos bx
a 2  b2
a
L ( sin at) = ,s > 0. ,
s  a2
2


3. L ( cos at) =  e st cos at dt
0

Suppose s > 0 and integrate by using the formula

Third Semester-MAT231BT 6 Department of Mathematics

 ∫ , -

( )
4. Let n be a constant, which is a non-negative real number or a negative non-integer

Then L (t n ) =  e st t n dt
0
 n 
 x  dx 1
Let and put st  x then L(t )   e  
n x
 n1  e  x x n dx
0 s s s 0

The integral  e  x x n dx is called gamma function of (n+1) denoted by (n  1) .
0

Γ(n  1 )
Thus L(t n ) 
s n1
In particular if n is a non-negative integer then Γ(n 1 )  n!
n!
Hence L(t n )  .
s n1
Table of Laplace Transform

( ) F(s)
1 , s>0
s

1 , s>a
sa

s , s > |a|
s2  a2

a , s > |a|
s2  a2
a , s>0
s2  a2
s , s>0
s2  a2
n!
, s>0
s n 1
n is a positive integer
 ( n  1)
, s>0
s n 1

Third Semester-MAT231BT 7 Department of Mathematics

Region of Convergence (RoC)
Laplace transform F(s) of a function f(t) converges provided that the limit ∫ ( )
exists. The Laplace transform converges absolutely if the integral∫ | ( ) | exists. The set
of values of s for which F(s) exists is known as the region of convergence.

Examples:
Evaluate: (i) ( ) (ii) ( ) (iii) ( )
Solution:
1
(i) ( ) , (cos t  cos 7t )]
2

=
1
L(cost )  L(cos 7t ) ( linearity property)
2
1 s s  24s
=   2   2 .
2  s  1 s  49  ( s  1)(s 2  49)
2

(ii) L ( cos2 4t) = L ( 1  cos 8t)    2

1 1 1 s 
.
2  2  s s  64 

(iii) We have sin 3 t 

1
3 sin t  sin 3t 
4

sin 3 2t 
1
3 sin 2t  sin 6t 
4

So L(sin 3 2t )  1  2 6 
6 
  2
48
4 s  4 s  36  ( s  4)(s 2  36)
2

4. Find ( )
Solution:
1
[cos5t  cos t ]
2
1
So [cos5t cos t  cos2 t ]
2
1
= [cos 6t  cos 4t  1  cos 2t ]
4

Thus L ( cos t cos 2t cos 3t) =  2

1 s s 1 s 
 2   2 .
4  s  36 s  16 s s  4 
5. Find ( )
Solution:

Third Semester-MAT231BT 8 Department of Mathematics

 1  cosh 2t
Using cosh2 t 
2
1  cosh 4t
For cosh2 2t 
2
1 1 s 
Thus L(cosh2 2t )   2 .
2  s s  16 


 1 
6. Evaluate (i) L ( t ) (ii) L  (iii) ( ).
 t
Solution:
 ( n  1)
We have L (t n ) =
s n1
1 
  1
, L (t 2 ) =  3 / 2 
1 21
(i) For
2 s
1  1 1 
Since (n  1)  n(n) , we have   1    
 2  2  2 2


Thus L( t )  3
.
2
2s
1
 
1 1 2 
(ii) For to get L(t 2 )  1 
2 s 2 s

 1
  
3 3  2 2 
(iii) For n   to get L(t 2 )   1   1  2 s .
2 s 2 s 2
7. Evaluate: (i) L(t 2 ) (ii) L(t 3 ) .
Solution:
n!
L (t n ) =
s n1
2! 2
(i) For , L(t 2 )   .
s3 s3
3! 6
(ii) For , L(t 3 )   .
s4 s4
8. Find the Laplace transform of
Solution:
Third Semester-MAT231BT 9 Department of Mathematics
 * +

Exercise:
Find the Laplace transform of the following functions:
(i) ( ) (ii) (iii) (iv) ( v) ( )
Answers:
3 cos 4  s sin 4
(i) (ii) 1  2 5  2 1  (iii) 1  2 2  2 4  2 6 
s 4
2
2  s  25 s  1  4  s  4 s  16 s  36 

s ( s 2  7)
(iv) ( s  1)(s  9) (v)  2
2 2 1 2
s s 4

Properties of Laplace transform

1. Linearity
For any two functions ( ) and ( ) whose Laplace transform exists and any two constants a
and b we have
, ( ) ( )- * ( )+ * ( )+.
Proof
By definition
 
, ( ) ( )- a e  st
f (t )dt  b e st g (t )dt
0 0

* ( )+ * ( )+
In particular
for , L, ( ) ( )- * ( )+ * ( )+ and
for , L, ( ) ( )- * ( )+ * ( )+.
The linearity of the Laplace transform follows from its definition as an integral and the fact that
integration is a linear operation.

2. Scaling
1 s
If * ( )+ ( ) then , ( )- F   , where a is a positive constant.
a a
Proof
Third Semester-MAT231BT 10 Department of
Mathematics
 

e
 st
By definition * ( )+ f (at )dt (1)
0

Put the expression (1) becomes,

 s
1  a  x
f ( x)dx  F  
a 0
* ( )+ 1 s
e
a a

Scaling in time introduces the inverse scaling in s. (It depends on the sign of ‘a’)

3. - domain shift (First shifting property)

Let a be any real constant then , ( )- ( )
Proof
 
By definition ,  
( )- =  e  st e at f (t ) dt =  e ( s a ) f (t )dt
0 0

= ( )
Multiplication by an exponential in time introduces a shift in frequency s to the Laplace
transform of ( ) i.e Laplace transform of ( ) can be written down directly by changing s
to in ( )

Example:
1
If ( ) , then F ( s ) 
s2
1
If ( ) then F ( s)  (Shifting towards right)
( s  3) 2

Third Semester-MAT231BT 11 Department of

Mathematics
 1
If ( ) then F ( s)  (Shifting towards left)
( s  3) 2

Examples:
1. Find , ( – )-.
Solution:
Consider ( ) –
* ( )+ ,( – )-
s 3(5)
F (s)  2  2
s  25 s  25
2

Given , ( – )-

=2
s  3 
15
(s- domain shift)
( s  3)  25 2
( s  3)2  25
2s  9
= .
s  6 s  34
2

2. Find , -
Solution:

, - = L

 eat  e at 
sin at 

 2 
1 a a 
=   2
2  (s  a)  a
2 2
( s  a)  a 
2

a ( s 2  2a 2 )
=
[(s  a ) 2  a 2 ][(s  a ) 2  a 2 ]
Third Semester-MAT231BT 12 Department of
Mathematics
3. Find ( ).
Solution:
 et  et  3 sin 2t  sin 6t 
Given L   
 2  4 

=
1
8
  
3L e t sin 2t  L(e t sin 6t )  3L(e t sin 2t )  L(e t sin 6t ) 
1 6 6 6 6 
  
8  ( s  1)  4 ( s  1)  36 ( s  1)  4 ( s  1)  36 

= 2 2 2 2

3 1 1 1 1 
=     .
4  (s  1)  4 (s  1)  36 ( s  1)  24 (s  1)  36 
2 2 2 2

5
4. Find L(e 4t t 2
).
Solution:
( n  1)
L(t n ) 
s n1
(3 / 2) 4 
Put , L(t -5/2 ) =  3 / 2 Change s to s  4 .
s 3 / 2 3s
4 
Therefore L(e 4t t 5 / 2 )  .
3(s  4) 3 / 2
Exercise:
Find the Laplace transform of the following functions.
(i) (ii)

Solutions:
( s  2) 2  8 ( s  2) 2  13
(i ) (ii )
( s  2)((s  2) 2  16) ((s  2) 2  25)((s  2) 2  1)

Differentiation in the -domain


If L{ f (t )}  F (s) , then L t n f (t )  (1) n  dn
ds n
F ( s), n  1, 2, 3,...

Suppose that is positive integer by definition

Third Semester-MAT231BT 13 Department of
Mathematics
 
F(s)   e st f (t )dt
0

Differentiating ‘ ’ times on both sides w.r.t. ,


dn n
F ( s)  n  e st f (t )dt
ds n
s 0
Performing differentiation under the integral sign,

dn
n
F ( s)   (t ) n e st f (t )dt
ds 0

Multiplying on both sides by (-1)n ,


dn
(1) n
F ( s)   (t n f (t )e st dt  L[t n f (t )] , by definition
n

ds 0

dn
Thus, L [t f(t)] = (1) n
n
F ( s) . This is the transform of ( )
ds n
 dn
1 
Also L  n F ( s)  (1) n t n f (t ) .
 ds 
Differentiation in -domain corresponds to multiplication by – in the time domain
d
In particular for , L [t f(t)]=  F (s) ,
ds
d2
for , L[t 2 f(t)]  F (s) etc.
ds 2
()
Transform of


By definition, F(s) =  e st f (t )dt
0

  st  
 st 
Therefore  F ( s)ds     e f (t )dt  ds   f (t )   e ds dt
s s0  0 s 
  
 e st   f (t )   f (t ) 
= 
0
f (t ) 
  t s
 dt  
0
e st 
 t   dt  L
 t 



 f (t ) 
Thus L    F ( s)ds.
 t  s
Examples:

Third Semester-MAT231BT 14 Department of

Mathematics
 1. Find L (t 2 sin 3t) .
Solution:
3
L(sin 3t ) 
s 9
2

d2  3  d s 18( s 2  3)
So that L (t 2 sin 3t) =   6
= = .
ds 2  s 2  9  ds (s 2  9) 2 ( s 2  9) 3

2. Find L [t e-t sin 4t] .

Solution:
4
L ( sin 4t) =
s  16
2

d 4 8s
So that L(t sin 4t) =  = 2 .
ds s  16 ( s  16)2
2

By – shifting property
8(s  1) 8( s  1)
So that L [t e-t sin 4t] = = 2 .
(s  1)  16)
2 2
( s  2s  17) 2

 et sin t 
3. Find L 
 t .
Solution:
1
L (sin t ) 
s 12


 sin t 
L
ds
  2

 tan 1 ( s) s  
 t  s s 1

  tan 1 ( s )
2
-1
= cot (s)
By – shifting property
 e t sin t 
Hence L   cot -1
(s+1 ).
 t 
 sin t   sin at 
4. Find L  and hence evaluate L  .
 t   t 
Solution:

Third Semester-MAT231BT 15 Department of

Mathematics
 1
We have L( sin t) =
s 1
2


 sin t 
So L{f(t)}= L  = s
ds
1
 
 tan 1 s S 
 t 
2
s


=  tan 1 s  cot 1 s  F ( s ).
2
 sin at   sin at 
Consider L   = a L   aLf (at )
 t   at 
 1  s 
= a  F   (scaling)
 a  a 
s
= cot 1  .
a
 cos at  cos bt 
5. Find L  
 t .
Solution:
s s
We have L[cos at  cos bt ] =  2
s a
2 2
s  b2

1   s 2  a 2 

 cos at  cos bt   s s 
So that L 
 t    s 2  a 2 s 2  b 2 
=  ds = log  
2   s 2  b 2  s
s

1  s2  a2   s 2  a 2 
=  Lt log    log  2 
2 
2  s  s 2  b 2   s  b 

1  s 2  b 2  1  s 2  b2 
= 0  log  2 
2 
= log  .
2  s  a  2  s 2  a 2 

Exercise:
Find the Laplace transform of the following functions.
1  e 2t e  at  e bt sin 2 t
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) .
t t t
Answers:

  2( s  1)(s 2  2s  2)  s  2  (iv) 1 log  s  4 .

2
5s s
(i )    (ii ) (iii ) log  
( s 2  25) 2  ( s 2  1) 2  ((s  1) 2  1) 3  s  2  s 2 

Third Semester-MAT231BT 16 Department of

Mathematics
 
3
e
3t
6. Prove that t sin tdt  .
0
50
Solution:

d d  1  2s
e
 st
By t sin tdt  L(t sin t ) =  L (sin t ) =   2  = 2
0
ds ds  s  1 ( s  1) 2

3
e
3t
Put to get t sin t dt  .
0
50

Exercise:
Evaluate the following integrals using Laplace transforms:
    t
 e 3t  e 6t  e sin 3 t
(i)  te 2t
sin 3t dt (ii)  e t cos t dt (iii)  
3t 3
dt (iv)  dt
0 
0 0
t 0
t

Answers:
12 168 
(i ) (ii ) 4 (iii) log 2 (iv )
169 10 3

Differentiation in the time domain

If L{ f (t )}  F (s) , then L{ f n (t )}  s n L{ f (t )}  s n1 f (0)  s n2 f (0)  ....... f n 1

(0) .
Consider

L{ f (t)} =  e st f (t )dt
0

=e   st


f (t ) 0   (s)e  st f (t )dt (integration by parts)

 
0
 st
= Lt (e f (t )  f (0)  sLf (t )
t 
= 0 - f (0) + s L {f (t)}
Thus
L { f (t ) } = s L {f (t)} – f (0)
Similarly
L { f (t )} = s2 L {f (t)} – s f(0) - f (0)

In general
L{ f n (t )}  s n L{ f (t )}  s n1 f (0)  s n2 f (0)  ....... f n 1
(0) .

Third Semester-MAT231BT 17 Department of

Mathematics
 Integration property
If L{ f (t )}  F (s) , then ∫ ( ) ( )

t
Let  (t )   f (t )dt then  (0)  0 and  (t )  f (t )
0
  
 e  st  e  st
 s  0 0
Now L{ (t)} =  e  (t )dt =  (t )
 st

   (t ) dt
0  s

1
= (0  0) 
s0 f (t )e  st dt

Thus ∫ ( ) ( )

Examples:
1. By using the Laplace transform of sinat, find the Laplace transform of cosat.
Solution:
a
Let f (t)  sin at , then L{f (t)}= 2
s  a2
We note that f (t )  a cos at
Taking Laplace transforms, L f (t )  L(a cos at )  aL(cos at )
Or L{ cos at} = L f (t )  sL f (t )  f (0)
1 1
a a
1  sa 
=  2  0 .
a s  a 2

s
Thus L{ cos at} = 2 .
s  a2

 t  1  1  1
2. Given L 2   3 / 2 , show that L   .
  s  t  s
Solution:
t 1
Let f (t )  2 , given L[ f (t )]  3 / 2
 s
2 1 1
Note that f (t )  
 2 t t
 1 
Taking Laplace transform to get L{ f (t )}  L  
 t 
 1   1 
Hence L    Lf (t )  sLf (t )  f (0) = s  3 / 2   0
 t  s 

Third Semester-MAT231BT 18 Department of

Mathematics
  1  1
Thus L   .
 t  s
 cos at  cos bt 
t
3. Find L   dt.
0 
t
Solution:
 cos at  cos bt  1  s  b 
2 2
Here L{f (t)}= L   log  2 
2 
 t  2 s a 
t
Using the result L   f (t )dt   s L{ f (t )}
1
0

 cos at  cos bt 
t
 s2  b2 
L   = 1
dt log  2 .
2 
0
t  2s s a 
t
4. Find L  te t sin 4tdt .
0
Solution:

L te t sin 4t   8( s  1)
( s  2s  17) 2
2

8( s  1)
t
Thus L  te t sin 4tdt = .
0 s( s  2s  17) 2
2

Exercise:
Find the Laplace transform of the following functions.
t t t
t sin t
(i) L  e dt (ii) L  e cosh t dt (iii) L  t 2 sin atdt
t

0
t 0 0

Answers:
1 1 ( s  1) 2a(3s 2  a 2 )
(i ) cot ( s  1) (ii) (iii)
s s( s 2  2s) s(s 2  a 2 )3

Periodic function

Definition
A function ( ) is said to be a periodic function of period if ( ) ( ) where
The graph of the periodic function repeats itself in equal intervals.

For example are periodic functions of period 2 since ( ) ,

( )

Third Semester-MAT231BT 19 Department of

Mathematics
The graph of ( ) is shown below :

Note that the graph of the function between 0 and 2 is the same as that between 2 and 4 and
so on.

The graph of ( ) is shown below :

Note that the graph of the function between 0 and 2 is the same as that between 2 and 4 and
so on.
Laplace Transform of a periodic function
T
1
 ST 
Let ( ) be a periodic function of period then L{ f (t )}  e  st f (t )dt.
1 e 0
Proof:
 
By definition we have * ( )+ =  e  st f (t )dt   e  su f (u )du
0 0
T 2T ( n 1)T

e f (u)du   e e
 su  su  su
= f (u)du  ....... f (u )du  ....  
0 T nT

Third Semester-MAT231BT 20 Department of

Mathematics
  ( n 1)T
=  e
n 0
 su
f (u )du
nT
 T
Let us set , then * ( )+  e
n 0 t 0
 s ( t  nT )
f (t  nT )dt

Here ( ) ( ) by periodic property

 T
Hence, L f (t )   (e  sT ) n  e  st f (t )dt
n 0 0

 1   st
T

 sT 
=  e f (t )dt , identifying the above series as a geometric series.
1  e  0
 1   st
T
Thus * ( )+ 1  e  sT   e f (t )dt .
0

Examples

1. For the periodic function ( ) of period 4, defined by ( ) { , find

* ( )+
Solution:
Here period of ( )
 1   st  1   st
T 4
By definition * ( )+ 1  e  sT   e f (t )dt = 1  e 4 s   e f (t )dt
0 0

1  
2 4

4 s  
 st
= 3te dt  6e  st dt 
1 e 0 2 
 4
1    e  st  e  st   e  st  
2
2

1  e 4 s     s  0 0  s    s  2 
= 3t    1. dt   6 
   
1  3 1  e  2se  
2 s 4 s

=  .
1  e 4 s  s2 
3(1  e 2 s  2se 4 s )
Thus * ( )+
s 2 (1  e  4 s )
2
2. A periodic function of period is defined by




( )
 2
{  

Third Semester-MAT231BT 21 Department of

Mathematics
 E
where E and  are positive constants. Show that * ( )+ .
( s  w )(1  e s / w )
2 2

Solution:
2 /   /
2 1 1
 e f (t )dt =  Ee sin tdt
 st  st
Here T= . Therefore * ( )+
 1 e  s ( 2 /  )
0 1 e  s ( 2 /  )
0
 /
 e  st

=
E
   s sin t   cos t 
1  e  s ( 2 /  )  s 2   2 0
 s / 
E  (e  1)
=  s ( 2 /  )
1 e s 
2 2

E (1  e  s /  )
=
(1  e  s /  )(1  e  s /  )(s 2   2 )
E
=  s /  .
(1  e )(s 2   2 )

3. A periodic function ( ) of period is defined by

( ) {
E  as 
Show that * ( )+ tanh  .
s  2
Solution:
2a
1
e
 st
Here . Therefore * ( )+ f (t )dt
1  e 2 as 0

1  a  st 2a

1  e  2 as  0 a
 st
=  Ee dt   Ee dt 

=
E
s(1  e )  2 as
1  e sa   (e 2as  e as ) 
=
E
 2 as
s (1  e )

1  e  as  2 E (1  e  as ) 2
s (1  e  as )(1  e  as )
E  e as / 2  e  as / 2  E  as 
=  as / 2 
 tanh   .
s e  e
as / 2
 s 2

Exercise:

1. Find * ( )+ of periodic function given ( ) { and

–
( ) ( )

2. Find * ( )+given

Third Semester-MAT231BT 22 Department of

Mathematics
 a
2
( )
a
{ 2
( ) ( )

Solution:
1  as  1  as 
1. tanh  2. tanh  
 2  4
2
s s

Unit Impulse function

Phenomena of an impulsive nature, such as the action of forces or voltages over short interval of
time, arise in various applications, for instance, if a mechanical system is hit by a hammer blow,
an aeroplane makes ‘hard’ landing, a ship is hit by a single high wave, hit a tennis ball by a
racket and so on. These problems are modeled by ‘Dirac’s delta function’ (unit impulse
function)  (t ) and efficiently solved by Laplace transform.
The unit impulse function may be regarded as the limiting form of the function

( ) { as .

As , the width of the strip shown in fig becomes smaller and smaller, the height of the strip
increases indefinitely in such a way that the area remains unity in ( ).
Thus the unit impulse function or Dirac delta function ( ) is defined as
( ) {
Such that ∫ ( ) ( )

The unit impulse function (t) is defined to have the properties


 (t )  0 for t  0 and 

 (t ) dt  1
The unit impulse function is usually called the Dirac delta function.

Third Semester-MAT231BT 23 Department of

Mathematics
Laplace Transform of Unit Impulse function

If ( ) be a continuous function at , then ∫ ( ) ( ) ( )

Proof:

∫ ( ) ( ) ∫ ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

As ,∫ ( ) ( ) ( )

Taking ( ) we get,

∫ ( )

ie., , ( )- .
In particular, if , , ( )- .

For example when , L{(t -10)} = e-10s.

Video links:

Third Semester-MAT231BT 24 Department of

Mathematics
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MXMDrs6ZmA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnnnv4wt-Lw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-zd-T17uiE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7nzLD3t4Uc

Third Semester-MAT231BT 25 Department of

Mathematics