Unit-1

LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
The theory of Laplace transform is an essential part of the mathematical background required by
engineers, physicists and mathematicians. It gives an easy and effective means for solving certain types
of differential equations and integral equations. It is foundation of the modern form of operational
calculus, which was originated from the operational methods used by an English electrical engineer
Oliver Heaviside (1850–1925) for solving the equations in electromagnetic theory.
The method of Laplace transform reduces the process for solving ordinary differential equations with
constant coefficients under given initial boundary conditions to an essentially algebraic procedure.
Definition
Let f (t ) , be a function defined for all positive real values of t, and s be real or complex parameter, then
Laplace transform of f (t ) , is denoted by L f (t ) or F (s ) and it is defined as

L f (t ) =  e −st f (t )dt = F (s ) , provided integral exists
0

I. Linearity Property
Let f (t ) and g (t ) be any two functions and a and b be any two constants, then
Laf (t )  bg (t ) = aL f (t )  bLg (t ) .

Proof: We know that L f (t ) =  e −st f (t ) dt
0

Therefore, Laf (t )  bg (t ) =  e −st af (t )  bg (t ) dt
0
 
= a  e −st f (t )dt  b  e −st g (t ) dt
0 0
Laf (t )  bg (t ) = aL f (t )  bLg (t )

Transform of Some Standard Functions

1. Laplace Transform of a constant ‘a’

Proof: We have L f (t ) =  e −st f (t ) dt
0
  
e − st 
Therefore, La =  e a dt = a  e dt = a
− st − st

0 0
− s 0

 − 
=−
a
0 − 1 1 1
 e = e  =  = 0
s
La  =
a
( s  0)
s
2. Laplace Transform of e at

Proof: We have L f (t ) =  e −st f (t ) dt
0
  
Therefore,  
L e at =  e −st e at dt =  e − st + at dt
0 0

 
=  e (− s + a )t dt =  e −(s −a )t dt
0 0

e −( s − a )t 
=  =−
1
0 − 1
− (s − a )  0 s−a

 
L e at =
1
s−a
(s  a)

 
Note: Similarly L e − at =
1
s+a
(s  a)

3. Laplace Transform of sinh at


Proof: We have L f (t ) =  e −st f (t ) dt
0

Therefore, Lsinh at  =  e −st sinh at dt
0

=  e −st
1 at
(
e − e −at dt )  sinh x =
2
(
1 x
e − e−x )
0
2

1

=  e − st .e at − e − st .e −at dt
20


=
2 0
e 
1 − ( s − a )t
− e −(s + a )t dt 

1  e − (s −a ) t e −(s+a ) t 
=  −
2  − (s − a ) − (s + a )  0
1
=  −
1
(0 − 1) + 1 (0 − 1)
2 s−a s+a 
1 1 1  1  (s + a ) − (s − a )
= − =
2  s − a s + a  2  (s − a )(s + a ) 


1  2a 
=
2  s 2 − a 2 

Lsinh at  =
a
(s  a )
s − a2
2

4. Laplace Transform of coshat


Proof: We have L f (t ) =  e −st f (t )dt
0

Therefore, Lcosh at  =  e −st cosh atdt
0
 1
2
(
=  e − st e at + e −at dt )  cosh x = (
1 x
2
e + e −x )
0

 

1 −(s −a )t
+ e −(s + a )t dt
2 0
= e
 
1  e −(s −a )t e −(s +a )t 
=  + 
2  − (s − a ) − (s + a ) 0

1
=  −
1
(0 − 1) − 1 (0 − 1)
2 s−a s+a 
1 1 1  1 s+a+s−a 
= + =
2  s − a s + a  2  (s − a )(s + a )


1  2s 
=
2  s 2 − a 2 

Lcosh at  = 2
s
, (s  a )
s − a2
5. Laplace Transform of sin at

Proof: We have L f (t ) =  e − st f (t )dt
0

 ax
Therefore, Lsin at  =  e −st sin atdt  e sin bxdx = 2
e ax
a sin bx − b cos bx
0  a +b 2


e − st
= − s sin at − a cos at 
(− s )2 + a 2 0

=
1
0 − 1− s(0) − a(1)
s + a2
2

Lsin at  =
a
( s  0)
s + a2
2

6. Laplace Transform of cos at


Proof: We have L f (t ) =  e −st f (t )dt
0

 ax e ax 
Therefore, Lcos at  =  e −st cos atdt  e cos bxdx = (a cos bx + b sin bx )
0  a +b
2 2


e − st
= − s cos at + a sin at 
(− s )2 + a 2 0

1
= 0 − 1− s(1) + a(0)
s + a2 2

Lcos at  = 2
s
( s  0)
s + a2
7. Laplace Transform of t n where n is non-negative real number or negative fraction.

Proof: We have L f (t ) =  e −st f (t ) dt
0

Therefore,  
L t n =  e −st t n dt
0
Put st = x  sdt = dx  dt = dx / s
If t = 0  x = 0 , if t =   x = 
 
 
n
 x  dx x n dx
L t = e  
n −x
=  e−x n
0 s s 0 s s
 
 

=
1
 e x dx =
−x n 1
n +1
 (n + 1)   (n ) =  e − x x n −1 dx 
s n +1 0
s  0 
(n + 1)
 
L tn =
s n+1
,

when n is non-negative real number or negative fraction. When n is non-negative integer then the above
equation can be written as

 
L tn =
n!
s n+1
[ (n + 1) = n! when n is non-negative integer]

List of formulae
La  =
a
s
 
L e at =
1
s−a
 
L e −at =
1
s+a
Lsinh at  =
a
s − a22

Lcosh at  = 2 Lsin at  = 2
s a
s − a2 s + a2

Lcos at  = 2
s
s + a2
 n!
 s n+1 if n = 0,1,2,...
 
L tn = 
 (n + 1) if n = 0,1,2,...or non integer
 s n+1
Worked Examples
1. Find the Laplace transforms of the following
(i) 2 + 5t 3 + 4e −3t + 10e t + sin 2t (ii) 5 sin 2t + 3 cos 4t
(iii) 4 sinh 2t + 3 cosh10t (iv) t
2
 54 − 
3
 1 
5
(v)  t −  (vi) t − t 
4

 t  
➨ (i) Let f (t ) = 2 + 5t 3 + 4e −3t + 10e t + sin 2t
 
Therefore, L f (t ) = L 2 + 5t 3 + 4e −3t + 10e t + sin 2t
= L2 + 5Lt  + 4 Le  + 10 Le  + Lsin 2t 
3 −3t t

2 3! 1 1 2
=+ 5  3+1 + 4  + 10 + 2
s s s+3 s −1 s + 22
2 30 4 10 2
= + 4 + + + 2
s s s + 3 s −1 s + 4
(ii) Let f (t ) = 5 sin 2t + 3 cos 4t
Therefore, L f (t ) = L5sin 2t + 3cos 4t 
2 s 10 3s
= 5 2 + 3 2 = 2 + 2
s +2 2
s +4 2
s + 4 s + 16
(iii) Let f (t ) = 4 sinh 2t + 3 cosh 10t

Therefore, L f (t ) = 4  2
2 s 8 3s
+ 3 2 = 2 + 2
s −2 2
s − 10 2
s − 4 s − 100
(iv) Let f (t ) = t = t 1/ 2

1  1 1
 + 1  
 2  2  2
Therefore, L f (t ) = (1 / 2 )+1 =  (n + 1) = n(n)
s s3/ 2
  1
=    = 
2
3/ 2
2.s
3
1   2 −2 
3

1 1
(v) Let f (t ) =  t −  =  t − t 
 t  
−  − 
3 3 1 1 1 1
−
f (t ) = t − t − 3  t  t  t − t 2 
2 2 2 2 2

 
3 3 1 1
− −
f (t ) = t − t
2
− 3t + 3t 2 2 2

3   3  1   1 
 + 1  − + 1 3 + 1  − + 1
Therefore, L f (t ) =  3  −  3  −  1
2 
+3  1 
2 2 2
+1 − +1 +1 − +1
s2 s 2 s2 s 2
5  1  3 1
   −  3   
L f (t ) =   − 
2
−   +3  
2 2 2
5 1 3 1
−
2 2 2 2
s s s s
3 1 1 (− (1 / 2 ) + 1) 1  1  1
      
2 2 2 − (1 / 2 ) 2 2
+3 1 
2
= 5
− 1
− 3
−
s2 s 2
s2 s2
3  2  3  3 
L f (t ) = 5
+ 1
− 3
+ 1
−
2 2 2
4s s 2s s2
2 2
 5   −5 
2
 54 − 
5 5 5
−
(vi) Let f (t ) = t − t  = t
4  4  
+ t 4  − 2t 4t 4
   
     
5 5
−
f (t ) = t + t
2 2
−2

5   5 
 + 1  − + 1
Therefore, L f (t ) =  5  +  5  −
2 2 2
+1 − +1 s
s2 s 2
5 3  3  3
.    − 
2 2  2
L f (t ) = + −3 / 2  −
2 2
7/2
---(1)
s s s
 3   1 
 − + 1  − + 1
 3 2  1
 −  = 
2  2  2 
= −  −  = −
 2 − (3 / 2) 3  2 3 − (1/ 2)
4 1 4 
=   =
3 2 3
Therefore, equation (1) becomes,
15  4 
L f (t ) =
2
7
+ 3
− 
2
−
2
s
8s 3s
2. Find the Laplace transforms of the following
(i) sin t cos t (ii) sin 2t cos 3t (iii) sin t sin 3t sin 5t
2 2
(iv) sin 3t (v) cos 4t (vi) cos 3 2t
(vii) cos (3t + 4)
➨ (i) Let f (t ) = sin t cos t =
sin 2t
 sin 2 A = 2 sin A cos A
2
 sin 2t  1
L f (t ) = L 
2 1
 =  2 = 2
 2  2 s +2 s +4
2

(ii) Let f (t ) = sin 2t cos 3t

 
f (t ) = cos 3t sin 2t cos A sin B = sin ( A + B ) − sin ( A − B )
1
 2 
f (t ) = sin 5t − sin t
1
2
L f (t ) =
1 5 1 1
Therefore, −
2 s +5
2 2
2 s2 +1
5 1
= −
2(s + 25) 2(s + 1)
2 2

(iii) Let f (t ) = sin t sin 3t sin 5t

 
f (t ) = (sin 5t sin 3t )sin t sin A sin B = cos( A − B ) − cos( A + B )
1
 2 
f (t ) = cos 2t − cos 8t sin t = cos 2t sin t − cos 8t sin t 
1 1
2 2
1 1 
=  sin 3t − sin t − sin 9t − sin 7t
1
2 2 2 
f (t ) = sin 3t − sin t − sin 9t + sin 7t 
1
4
1 3 7 
L f (t ) =  2
1 9
Therefore, − 2 − 2 + 2
4  s + 9 s + 1 s + 81 s + 49 
 2 
(iv) Let f (t ) = sin 2 3t  sin A = 2 (1 − cos 2 A)
1

f (t ) = (1 − cos 6t )
1
2
1 1 s 
Therefore, L f (t ) = − 2

2  s s + 36 
(v) Let f (t ) = cos 2 4t
1 + cos 8t  2 1 + cos 2 A 
f (t ) = cos A = 
2 2

L f (t ) = L1 + cos 8t 
1
2
1 1 s 
L f (t ) = + 2
2  s s + 64 


(vi)Let f (t ) = cos 3 2t
 
=  cos 6t + 3 cos 2t cos 3 A =  cos 3 A + 3 cos A
1 1
4 
 4 
1 s s  1 s 3s 
Therefore, L f (t ) =  2 +3 2  =  2 + 2 
4  s + 36 s + 4  4  s + 36 s + 4 
(vii) Let f (t ) = cos(3t + 4)
f (t ) = cos 3t cos 4 − sin 3t sin 4
Therefore, L f (t ) = cos 4Lcos 3t  − sin 4Lsin 3t 
s cos 4 3 sin 4 s cos 4 − 3 sin 4
= 2 − = 
s + 9 s2 + 9 s2 + 9
t − 1 0  t  2
3. Find L f (t ), given that f (t ) = 
3 − t t  2
 2 
➨ We have L f (t ) =  e −st f (t ) dt =  e −st (t − 1) dt +  e −st (3 − t ) dt
0 0 2
2 
=  (t − 1) e −st dt +  (3 − t )e − st dt
0 2
By applying integration by parts, we get
2  
e −st  e −st e −st  e −st
2
L f (t ) = (t − 1) ( ) ( )
− s  0 0 − s − s  2 2
 − 1  dt + 3 − t  − − 1 dt
−s
2 
1 e − st  1 e − st 
s
(
= − e − 2 s − (− 1) +
1
)  −
s (− s ) 0 s
1
0 − e −2 s
− 
s (− s )  2
( )
=−
(1 + e ) − 1 (e
−2 s
e −2 s 1
−2 s
)
+ 2 0 − e −2 s
−1 + ( )
s s2 s s
−2 s −2 s −2 s −2 s
−1− e + e − e +1− e 1 1 − 2e −2 s
= + = − + 
s s2 s s2
0 for 0  t  2
4. Find L f (t )given that f (t ) = 
4 for t  2

➨ We have L f (t ) =  e − st f (t )dt
0
2 
=  e −st (0)dt +  e −st  4  dt
0 2

e − st 
 = − (e − e )
4 − −2 s
= 0+4
− s 2 s
4e −2 s
L f (t ) = 
s
0 for 0  t  1

5. Find Laplace transform of f (t ) , where f (t ) = 1 for 1  t  2
0 for t  2


➨ We have L f (t ) =  e −st f (t ) dt
0
1 2 
=  e −st  0  dt +  e −st 1 dt +  e −st  0  dt
0 1 2
2
e  − st

 + 0 = − (e − e )
1 −2 s −s
= 0+
− s 1 s

e − s − e −2 s
L f (t ) = . 
s