Heaviside’s expansion formula

Statement: Let P(s) and Q(s) be polynomial in s where P(s) has

degree less than of Q(s). If Q(s) has n distinct roots
 k , k = 1, 2, , n that is
Q( s ) = ( s − 1 )( s −  2 )  (s −  k )

 P( s)  n P( k )
= e t .
−1
then L  k

 Q( s)  k =1 Q( k )
Proof: Since P(s) is a polynomial of degree less than that of Q(s)
and Q(s) has distinct roots 1  n , we can write according to the
method of partial fraction
P( s) A1 A2 An
= + + + (1)
Q ( s ) s − 1 s −  2 s − n
Multiplying both sides of (1) by s −  k and putting s =  k , we find
using L. Hospital’s rule
P( s)
Ak = Lt (s −  k )
s→ k Q ( s )

s − k
= Lt P( s )
s→ k Q( s )
1 P ( k ) 0 
= Lt P ( s ) Lt =  0 form 
s → k s → k
Q( s ) Q( s )
 P(1 )
A1 = ,

Q (1 )

P ( 2 ) P ( n )
similarly A2 = An =
Q( 2 ) Q( n )
P ( s ) P (1 ) 1 P( 2 ) 1 P ( n ) 1
 = + ++
Q( s ) Q(1 ) s − 1 Q( 2 ) s −  2 Q( n ) s −  n
 P( s )  P(1 ) 1t P( 2 )  2 t P( n )  n t
 L−1  = .e + e ++ e
 Q( s)  Q(1 ) Q( 2 ) Q( n )

n
P ( k )  k t
= .e . proved
k =1 Q ( k )

 −1 s2 
Exam-1 Evaluate : L   . by using Heaviside’s
 ( s + 1)( s + 2)( s + 3) 
expansion formula
Solution: Here P( S ) = s 2 , Q( s) = ( s + 1)( s + 2)( s + 3)
Q( s) = ( s + 1)[( s + 3) + ( s + 2) + ( s + 2)( s + 3)
= ( s + 1)( s + 3) + ( s + 1)( s + 2) + ( s + 2)( s + 3)
−1 s2  1 −t 4 −2 t 9
L   = e + e + e −3t
 ( s + 1)( s + 2)( s + 3)  2 (−1) (−2)(−1)
e−t 9
= − 4e −2t + e −3t . Answer
2 2
For repeated roots: In the of case Q(s) has repeated linear factors,
P( s )  ( s)
we can write f ( s) = =
Q( s) ( s −  ) n+1
where (s) is the quotient of polynomials P(s) and the one obtained
by removing the factor (s −  )n+1 from Q(s). Then we have
 ( s) A0 A1 An
= + +  + + g ( s)
(s −  ) n+1
s −  (s −  ) 2
(s −  ) n+1

where g(s) denotes the sum of partial fractions corresponding to the

other factor of Q(s). Multiplying both sides by (s −  )n+1 ,we
get ( s) = A0 ( s −  ) n + A1 ( s −  ) n −1 + 
+ Ar ( s −  ) n −r +  + An + g ( s)( s −  ) n +1
Taking the limit as s →  , An =  ( ) and so we have on

differentiating both sides (n − r)th times w.r.t. s,

1
 n−r ( ) = ( n − r )!, Ar  Ar =  n−r ( )
( n − r )!
n
 n−r ( ) 1
 f ( s) =  + g ( s)
r = 0 ( n − r )!( s −  )
r +1

Taking the inverse transform, we have

n
 n−r ( ) t r e t
F (t ) = L { f ( s)} = 
−1
+ G (t )
r =0 ( n − r )! r !
  1 
Exam2 Evaluate: L−1  2
 ( s − 2)( s + 2) 
1 A B0 B1
f (s) = = + +
( s − 2)( s + 2) 2 s − 2 s + 2 ( s + 2) 2
P( s ) 1 1
where A0 = Lt = Lt =
s→2 Q( s ) s→2 ( s + 2) 2 + 2( s + 2)( s − 2) 16
1 1
B0 =  ( ) = −
(1 − 0 )! 16
1 1 0 1
B1 =  1−1 ( ) =  ( ) =  (−2) = −
(1 − 1)! 0! 4

1 1 1
where  ( s) = ,  (−2) = =−
s−2 −2 − 2 4
1
 ( s) = −
( s − 2) 2
1 −1
 (−2) = − =
(−2 − 2) 2 16
L−1{ f n (s)} = (−1)n t n F (t )
1 1 1 1 1 1
 f ( s) = − . −
16 s − 2 16 s + 2 4 ( s − 2) 2
1 2 t 1 −2 t 1 2 t
 F (t ) = e − e − te Ans.
16 16 4
  2s + 3 
Evaluate: L−1  2
 ( s + 1) ( s + 2) 
2

2s + 3 A0 A1 B0 B1
f ( s) = = + + +
( s + 1) 2 ( s + 2) 2 s + 1 ( s + 1) 2 s + 2 ( s + 2) 2
2s + 3 −2 + 3
Here,  ( s) = ,  (−1) = =1
( s + 2) 2
(−1 + 2) 2

( s + 2) 2 (2) − 2( s + 2)( 2s + 3) ( s + 2) 2 − 2(2s + 3)

 ( s) = =
( s + 2) 4
( s + 2)3
2 − 2.1
 (−1) = =0
(−1 + 2) 3

2s + 3 −4+3
= ,  (−2) = = −1
( s + 1) 2 (−2 + 1) 2
2( s + 1) 2 − (2s + 3).2( s + 1) 2( s + 1) − 2(2s + 3)
 ( s) = =
( s + 1) 4 ( s + 1)3
−2 + 2
 (−2) = =0
(−0 + 1)
 1 1
A0 =  ( ) =  (−1) = 0
1! 1!
1 0
A1 =  (−1) = 1
0!
1
B0 =  (−2) = 0
1!
1
B1 =  0 (−2) = −1
0!
 1 1 
L−1  −  = te −t
− te −2 t

 ( s + 1) ( s + 2) 
2 2
 5s 2 − 15 s − 11
−1
Evaluate: L  3
 ( s + 1)( s − 2) 
5s 2 − 15 s − 11 A B0 B1 B2
f ( s) = = + + +
( s + 1)( s − 2)3 s + 1 s − 2 ( s − 2) 2 ( s − 2)3
Here, P(s) = 5s 2 − 15s − 11
P(−1) = 5 + 15 − 11 = 9
Q(s) = (s + 1)(s − 2)3
Q(s) = 3(s + 1)(s − 2)2 + (s − 2)3
Q(−1) = (−1 − 2)3 = −27
5s 2 − 15s − 11
Q( s ) =
s +1
( s + 1)(10 s − 15) − (5s 2 − 15 s − 11)
Q( s) =
( s + 1) 2

10 s − 15 5s 2 − 15 s − 11
−
s +1 ( s + 1) 2
(2 + 1)(10) − (10 s − 15).1
Q( s) =
( s + 1) 2
( s + 1) 2 (10 s − 15) − 2(5s 2 − 15 s − 11)( s + 1)
−
( s + 1) 4
5.4 − 15.2 − 11 − 2h
 (2) = = = −7
3 3
 3(20 − 15) − (c − 21) 15 + 21
 (2) = = =4
(2 + 1) 2
−9
25 45 + 126 225 − 45 − 126 54
= − = =
9 81 81 81
P(−1) 9 −1
A0 = Lt = =
s →−1
Q(−1) −27 3
1 1 54 1
B0 =  (2) =  =
2−0

( 2 − 0 ) ! 2 81 3
1 1
B1 =   (2) = .4 = 4
( 2 − 1)! 1
1 0
B2 =  (2) = −7 .
0!
Taking inverse laplace
−1 − t 1 2 t 4 2 t −7 2 2 t
F (t ) = e + e + te − t e
3 3 1! 2!
1 1 7
= − e − t + e 2 t + 4te 2 t − t 2 e 2 t
3 3 2
Applications
To evaluate the integrations

0 e− x dx
2
1. Evaluate:

Soln.
 
Let G (t ) =  0 e− tx dx
2

From definition of Laplace transform, we have


L{G (t )} =  0 e− st G (t )dt

= 0 e− st  

0
e− tx dx dt
2

= 0

 

0
e− st e− tx
2
dt  dx

Le  dx

= 0 − tx 2

= 0
 1
s + x2
dx since L e − tx 2
=
1
s + x2
 
 dx
= 0
x2 + ( s )
2


1 x 
=  tan −1 
 s s 0
1 1
= tan −1  − tan −1 0
s s
1  1 
= − 0=
s2 s 2 s

Thus L{G (t )} = .
2 s
Now taking the inverse Laplace transform we have
  
    −1  1 
−1
G (t ) = L  = L  1
2 s  2  2 
s 
1
 −1  1  
−
t 2
= L  1 =
2  − 2 +1  2  1 
s    − + 1
 2 
1
−
 t 2
=
2 1
2
 1 1 
= . = .
2 t  2 t
 1 
0 e − tx dx =
2
Hence
2 t
 
0 e− x dx =
2
Putting t = 1, we have . Ans
2


 0 cos x dx
2
2 Evaluate:

Slon.

Let G(t ) =  0 cos tx 2 dx

Then taking the Laplace transform, we have

 L G (t ) =  0 e − st   0 cos tx 2 dx  dt
 

 
= 0

 

0
e− st cos tx2 dt dx 

=  0 L{cos tx2 } dx

 s s
= 0 dx . Since L{cos at} = , s0
s +x
2 4
.s + a
2 2

Put x 2 = s tan  or x = s tan 

s 2 + x 4 = s 2 + s 2 tan 2  = s 2 sec 2 
1
dx = s . sec 2  d
2 tan 

Limits x=0
x = 
 =0  =  
 
2

 s s 1
 0 =   d
2
dx 2 s sec
s +x
2 4 0
s sec 
2 2
2 tan 

d 1 2 −
1
= 2 =  (tan  ) 2
d
0
2 s tan  2 s 0
 1 1
1 −  
=
2 s
 sin cos d
0
2 2 2

 1 3
1 −1 −1
=
2 s  0
2 sin 2
 cos 2
d
  1 3
1 2. −1 2. −1
=
2 s  0
2 sin 4
 cos 4
d

1 3
  
1 1 4 4
= .
2 s 2 1 3
 + 
4 4

[Using the formula  0
2 sin 2 m −1  cos2 n −1  d

1 mn
=  (m, n) =
2 2 (m + n)
1  1
 1 − 
1  4  4
=
4 s 1
1  
= since p (1 − p) =
4 s  sin p
sin
4
1   2  2
= =  L{G(t )} =
4 s 1 4 s 4 s
2
Now taking the inverse Laplace transform, we have


 1  2
G (t ) =  0 cos tx dx = 2
L  1 −1

4  s 2 
  1 
 2 −1
= L  1 
4  s − 2 +1 
1
−
 2 t 2
=
  − + 1
4 1
 2 
1
−
 2 t 2
 2 1 2 1
= = .
4 1 4  t 4 t
2
 2 1
 0 cos tx2 dx =
4
.
t
Putting t = 1, we have

 2 1 
0 cos x 2 dx = = Ans
4 2 2

 sin tx
3. Evaluate  0
x( x + 1)
2
dx

 sin tx
Let F (t ) =  0 dx
x( x + 1)
2

Taking laplace on both sides

   x 
1
f (s) =  0  2 2 
dx
x( x + 1)  s + x 
2

 1  1 1 
= 0 2  2 − 2 2 
dx
s −1  x +1 s + x 

1  1 x
= 2  tan −1 x − tan −1 
s −1  s s0
1   1    1 1 
= − = −
s 2 − 1  2 2 s  2  s s + 1
Taking inverse laplace on both sides
 
(1 − e −t )  ( )
 sin tx
F (t ) = 0 dx = 1 − e −t
Ans
2 x( x 2 + 1) 2
Evaluate the following
 sin tx  x sin tx
4. 0 2
dx [Ans :  t ] 5.  − ( x 2 + a 2 ) dx [Ans :  e −a t
]
x
 e− tx
6.  dx [Ans :  et erfc t ]
0
x ( x + 1)