An Example of the Convolution Theorem

Consider the differential equation

x + 4x + 13x = 2 e2t sin 3t , with x(0) = 1, x(0)

= 0.
Note that the solution of the homogeneous problem has the general form
x(t) = e2t (C1 cos 3t + C2 sin 3t) ,
so that the right hand side of the non-homogeneous equation is a solution of the homogeneous
problem. This leads to special considerations when using the method of undetermined
coefficient reflecting that we are in a resonance regime. The use of the Laplace transform
automatically takes care of this special case.
Transforming using the Laplace transform yields
s2 X(s) s + 4(sX(s) 1) + 13X(s) =

s2

6
.
+ 4s + 13

Solving the above expression for X yields

Y (s) =

s2

s+4
6
.
+ 2
+ 4s + 13 (s + 4s + 13)2

Writing s + 4) = s + 2 + (2/3)3 allows us to write

X(s) =

s+2
2
6
3
+
+
.
(s + 2)2 + 32 3 (s + 2)2 + 32 [(s + 2)2 + 32 ]2

Taking the inverse Laplace transform leads to the result



2
x(t) = e2t cos 3t + sin 3t + L1 {6/[(s + 2)2 + 32 ]2 } .
3
To find L1 {6/[(s + 2)2 + 32 ]2 } we first write
6
2
=
2
2
2
[(s + 2) + 3 ]
3

3
(s + 2)2 + 32



3
(s + 2)2 + 32

and then since L1 {3/[(s + 2)2 + 32 ]} = e2t sin 3t. we have, using the convolution theorem,
1

2 2

L {6/[(s + 2) + 3 ] } =

2
3

Zt

e2 sin 3 e2(t ) sin 3(t ) d

2 2t
e
3

Zt
sin 3 sin 3(t ) d
0

2 2t
e
3


1
1
sin 3t t cos 3t .
6
2

So the solution of the initial value problem is

2t

x(t) = e


1
7
for t > 0 .
cos 3t + sin 3t t cos 3t
9
3