The Unit Step Functions and Laplace Transforms

The Unit Step Function, U
, is like a switch that turns a function on or off over a specified
interval. By definition,
U
 = 

0  < 0

1 0

For example, consider the product U

. The function 
 is turned off when  < 0 and
turned on when  0. This happens because if  < 0, U

 =
0
 = 0, and if  0,
U

 =
1
 = 
.
In general, the unit step function for Laplace transforms is defined as
0 0 <  <

U
  = 
1


Example:
Suppose  = U
 2  . Then for  < 2, U
 2 = 0
and  =
0  = 0. For  2, U
 2 = 1 and
 =
1  =   .

Example: Suppose we want the function 
 =   only to exist on the interval [2, 3). Note that
0 0 <  < 2

U
 2 = 
1
2

and

Now lets investigate U
 2 U
 3.

<2

2<3
3

0 0 <  < 3

U
 3 = 
1
3

U
 2 U
 3 = 0 0 = 0

U
 2 U
 3 = 1 0 = 1

U
 2 U
 3 = 1 1 = 0

So, U
 2 U
 3  will equal   only on the

interval [2, 3).

Department of Mathematics, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH

From the previous example, suppose a function 
 is defined as follows:

2 0<<2

 = 1 2  < 3

1
3

We wish to express 
 in terms of the unit step functions U
 2 and U
 3. If  < 2,
both U
 2 and U
 3 are equal to zero. If 2  < 3, U
 2 = 1 and U
 3 = 0;
so 
 = 2 3U
 2 = 1. If  3, both U
 2 and U
 3 are equal to one, and
since 
 = 1 when  3, the function becomes 
 = 2 3U
 2 + 2U
 3.
Example: This time, suppose 
 = 




0  < 2

. Express in terms of unit step functions.

2

If 1  < 2, U
 1 = 1 and U
 2 = 0, so


 = U
 1 U
 2

If  2, U
 1 = 1 and U
 2 = 1, so


 = U
 1 U
 2 + U
 2 

General Formulas

In general, if 
 = 
Also,




 = 









0<
 < !

!

0  <

, then 
 = 
 
U
  +
U
 .




 = 
 + 
 
U
  + 

U
 !


 = 
1 U
  +
U
  U
 ! +
U
 !

2
Example: Write the function 
 =  


0<1
1  < 3
in terms of unit step functions.
3

Using the general formula from above,


 = 21 U
 1 + U
 1 U
 3 +   U
 3

Department of Mathematics, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH

Laplace Transforms

If "
# = L %
& and > 0, then

L %
 U
 & = ( )*+ "
#

If we let 
 = 1, then the Laplace transform of the unit step function is
L %U
 & =

( )*+
#

Example: Calculate the Laplace transform of the function 
 defined by

2 0<<2

 = 1 2  < 3

1
3

From earlier, we know that 
 = 2 3U
 2 + 2U
 3. So,

2 3( )+ 2( )+
+
L %
& = L %2& 3 L %U
 2& + 2 L %U
 3& =
#
#
#

Department of Mathematics, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH

Exercises: Write the following functions in terms of unit step functions. Then find the Laplace
transform of each function.

1.

4.

7.

1

 = 
1

 = .

0 <  < 2

2

cos 

2 0<5

 =  0 5  < 7

2
7

2.

3
2

3

2

0<


 = 1

5.

3.

6.
a


0  < 1


 =  
+2
1


 = 1

Find L %
  + 5U
 3&.

Answers:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.


 = 1 2U
 2;

1

1 2( )+ 
#


 = 2 2U
 5 2U
 7;

2

1 ( )3+ ( )4+ 
#

2 2( )+ 3( )+ 4( )+

 =  U
 1 + U
 1
 + 2;
 +  +
#
#
#
#


3

 = U 6 7 cos  ;
2

() 
# + 1


 = 1 U
  + U
 !;

1 ( )*+ ( )+8

+
#
#
#

1 ( )+

 =  U
 1 + U
 1
 1;
#
#
2( )+ 11( )+ 24( )+
+
+
#
#
#

Department of Mathematics, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH