WEEK3 CHAPTER1 MAT485/565

Unit Step function ( Heaviside unit step function )

Definition

1) A unit step function is defined as

0 𝑖𝑓 𝑡 < 0
𝑈(𝑡) = {
1 𝑖𝑓 𝑡 ≥ 0

The graph of U(t):

U(t)

2) Unit step function at t = c is defined as

0 𝑖𝑓 𝑡 < 𝑐
𝑈(𝑡 − 𝑐) = {
1 𝑖𝑓 𝑡 ≥ 𝑐

The graph of U(t-c):

U(t-c)

t
c

Rusyah/Norma Laplace transform

WEEK3 CHAPTER1 MAT485/565

A piecewise continuous function can be written in terms of unit step functions.

Consider

𝑓1 (𝑡) 0≤𝑡<𝑎
f(t) = {𝑓2 (𝑡) 𝑎≤𝑡<𝑏
𝑓3 (𝑡) 𝑡≥𝑏

F(t) in unit step function,

f(t) = f1(t) [U(t – 0) – U(t – a)] + f2(t) [U(t – a) – U(t – b)]

+ f3(t) [U(t – b)]

= f1(t) U(t) + [ f2(t) - f1(t)] U(t – a) + [f3(t) - f2(t) ]U(t – b)

Example

Express the following piecewise continuous function in terms of the unit step
function

2𝑡 2 0 ≤ 𝑡 < 3
a) 𝑓(𝑡) = {𝑡 + 4 3 < 𝑡 < 5
9 𝑡≥5

0 𝑡<1
1 1≤𝑡<3
b) 𝑔(𝑡) = 3 3≤𝑡<5
2 5≤𝑡<6
{0 𝑡≥6
Solution

Rusyah/Norma Laplace transform

WEEK3 CHAPTER1 MAT485/565

Laplace transform of unit step function:

𝑒 −𝑎𝑠
ℒ { U(t – a) } = 𝑠

Proof:
∞
ℒ { U(t-a) } = ∫0 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 𝑈(𝑡 − 𝑎)𝑑𝑡
𝑎 ∞
= ∫0 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 (0)𝑑𝑡 + ∫𝑎 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 (1)𝑑𝑡

since
0 𝑖𝑓 𝑡 < 𝑎
𝑈(𝑡 − 𝑎) = {
1 𝑖𝑓 𝑡 ≥ 𝑎

𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 𝑚
= lim |
𝑚→∞ −𝑠 𝑎
1
= − 𝑠 lim (𝑒 −𝑠𝑚 − 𝑒 −𝑠𝑎 )
𝑚→∞

1
= − 𝑠 lim (0 − 𝑒 −𝑠𝑎 ) , s>0
𝑚→∞

𝑒 −𝑎𝑠
= 𝑠

Example

a) ℒ{ U(t – 1) }

b) ℒ{ U(t + 4) }

c) ℒ{ U(t – 6) }

d) ℒ{ U(t + 11) }

Rusyah/Norma Laplace transform

WEEK3 CHAPTER1 MAT485/565

5. Theorem ( Second shifting)

If ℒ { f(t) } = F(s), then ℒ {f(t – a) U(t – a)} = e-as ℒ { f(t) } = e-as F(s)
(FOR ℒ {f(t) U(t – a)} = e-as ℒ { f(t + a) })

Example
a) ℒ {(t – 2) U(t – 2)}

b) ℒ { (t – 2)2 U(t – 2)}

c) ℒ {sin (t – 4) U(t – 4)}

d) ℒ {cos (t – 5) U(t – 5)}

e) ℒ { t U(t – 3)}

f) ℒ { t2 U(t – 1)}

𝜋
g) ℒ {sin t U(t - 2 )}

Example

Rewrite the following piecewise function in terms of unit step functions.

Hence, find ℒ {f(t)} using the second shifting property.

2𝑡 2 0 ≤ 𝑡 < 3
a) f(t) = {𝑡 + 4 3 ≤ 𝑡 < 5
9 𝑡≥5

𝑡 0≤𝑡<1
b) f(t) = {
0 𝑡>1

3𝑡 2 0<𝑡≤4
c) f(t) = {2𝑡 − 3 4<𝑡<6
5 𝑡>6

𝑡 0≤𝑡<1
d) f(t) = {2 − 𝑡 1<𝑡<2
0 𝑡>2

Rusyah/Norma Laplace transform

WEEK3 CHAPTER1 MAT485/565

Solution

Rusyah/Norma Laplace transform

WEEK3 CHAPTER1 MAT485/565

TRY THIS
Find the Laplace transform of f(t) = (t – e2t) sin 3t.
6𝑠 3
(Ans: (𝑠2+9)2 − (𝑠−2)2+9)

Rusyah/Norma Laplace transform

WEEK3 CHAPTER1 MAT485/565

6. Theorem (Laplace transform for integral function)

𝑡 ℒ {𝑓(𝑡)} 𝐹(𝑠)
If ℒ {(f(t)} = F(s) , then ℒ {∫0 𝑓(𝑢)𝑑𝑢} = =
𝑠 𝑠
Example
𝑡
Find a) ℒ {∫0 𝑢3 𝑑𝑢}
𝑡
b) ℒ {∫0 (𝑢4 + sin 2𝑢) 𝑑𝑢}

𝑡
c) ℒ {∫0 𝑒 −2𝑢 cos 𝑢 𝑑𝑢}

𝑡
d) ℒ {𝑒 3𝑡 ∫0 𝑒 4𝑢 u cos 4𝑢 𝑑𝑢}

Solution

Rusyah/Norma Laplace transform