UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

Department of Mathematics
Laplace Transforms Worksheet 1 of 5

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Question 1 Total for Question 1: 20 marks

(a) Define Laplace transform of a function. (2 marks)
(b) Use definition given in (a) above to prove the following:
i. L {t} = s12 (3 marks)
ii. L {eat } = s−a
1
(3 marks)
iii. L {sin(bt)} = b
s2 +b2
(4 marks)
(4 marks)
(c) Find the Laplace transform of the function

5 cos 3t + 2 sin 5t − 6t3

(4 marks)
(d) Find the Laplace transform of the function
1
−e−t + (sin t + cos t)
2

(4 marks)
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Question 2 Total for Question 2: 20 marks

(a) Prove the following:
i. L {cos(bt)} = s2 +b
s
2 (4 marks)
−at
ii. L {e sin(bt)} = b
(s+a)2 +b2
(5 marks)
(b) i. Use the Laplace transform tables to find the Laplace transform of

f (t) = t sin 5t

(2 marks)
−3t
ii. Use the First Shift Theorem to write down L {e t sin(5t)}. (3 marks)
(c) The Laplace Transform of y(t) is Y (s). Given that y(0) = 2 and y ′ (0) = −1,
write the following expressions for the Laplace transforms of:
i. 2y ′′ − 3y ′ + y (3 marks)
ii. −y ′′ + 2y ′ + y (3 marks)

Question 3 Total for Question 3: 20 marks

(a) Prove the following:
i. L {cosh(bt)} = s2 −b
s
2

(4 marks)
−at
ii. L {e cos(bt)} = s+a
(s+a)2 +b2
(5 marks)
(b) Express the following fractions as partial fractions and hence find their inverse
Laplace transforms:
3s+3
i. (s−1)(s+2) (5 marks)
5s
ii. (s+1)(2s−3)
(6 marks)

Question 4 Total for Question 4: 20 marks

(a) Prove the following:
i. L {sinh(bt)} = s2 −b
b
2

(4 marks)
−at
ii. L {e cosh(bt)} = s+a
(s+a)2 −b2
(5 marks)
(b) Express the following fractions as partial fractions and hence find their inverse
Laplace transforms:
2 +4s+4
i. s3s+2s 2 +5s (5 marks)
1−s
ii. (s+1)(s2 +2s+2)
(6 marks)

Question 5 Total for Question 5: 20 marks

(a) Express the following fractions as partial fractions and hence find their inverse
Laplace transforms:
2(s3 −3s2 +s−1)
i. (s2 +4s+1)(s2 +1)
(7 marks)
3s2 −s+8
ii. (s2 −2s+3)(s+2)
(7 marks)
s+4
iii. s2 +4s+4
(6 marks)

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Question 6 Total for Question 6: 20 marks

(a) Find the inverse Laplace transforms of the following functions using complex
numbers:
s+3
i. s2 +6s+13 (6 marks)
2s+3
ii. s2 +6s+13
(7 marks)
s−1
iii. 2s2 +8s+11
(7 marks)

Question 7 Total for Question 7: 20 marks

(a) Define the term convolution of functions.
(b) Find the convolution of 2t and t3 .
(4 marks)
(c) Show that f ⋆ g = g ⋆ f where f (t) = 2t and g(t) = t3 .
(5 marks)
(d) Use the convolution theorem to find the inverse Laplace transforms of the fol-
lowing functions:
1
i. (s+2)(s+3)
(5 marks)
3
ii. s(s2 +4) (5 marks)
( marks)

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