ME 221: Advanced Engineering Mathematics for ME

NOTES

Laplace Transforms. Linearity. First Shifting Theorem

(s-Shifting)

Laplace Transforms
• The Laplace Transform of the function f(t) defined for all t ≥ 0 is the integral of f(t) times
𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 from t = 0 to ∞. It is a function of s, F(s), denoted by L (t); thus

∞
𝑭(𝒔) = L (t) = ∫𝟎 𝒆−𝒔𝒕 𝒇(𝒕)𝒅𝒕

• Laplace Transform is an integral transform

∞
𝑭(𝒔) = ∫ 𝒌 (𝒔, 𝒕)𝒇(𝒕)𝒅𝒕
𝟎

With kernel k(s,t) = 𝒆−𝒔𝒕

• The given function f(t) is called “inverse transform”of F(s) and is denoted by

L -1(f) or f(t) = L -1(F)

• L -1[L (f)] = f and L [L -1 (F)] = F

Note:

1) Original functions depend on t and their transforms depend on s.

2) Original functions are denoted by lowercase letters and their transforms by the same
letters in capital.

Example:

1) Let f(t) = 1 , when t ≥ 0, find F(s).

Solution:

∞
L (f) = L (1) = ∫0 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 (1)𝑑𝑡
∞
= ∫ 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑡
0
∞
1
= − 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 |
𝑠 0
𝟏
=
𝒔

2) Let f(t) = 𝑒 𝑎𝑡 , when t ≥ 0, where 𝑎 is a constant. Find L (f).

Solution:

∞
L (f) = L (𝑒 𝑎𝑡 ) = ∫0 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 (𝑒 𝑎𝑡 )𝑑𝑡

Prepared by:

Engr. Reymart Jay G. Adaya

Faculty, College of Engineering
University of Southern Mindanao- Kidapawan City Campus
 ME 221: Advanced Engineering Mathematics for ME
NOTES
∞
= ∫ 𝑒 (𝑎−𝑠)𝑡 𝑑𝑡
0

∞
1
= 𝑒 −(𝑠−𝑎)𝑡 |
𝑎−𝑠 0

1 1
= [ 𝑒 −∞ − 𝑒 0]
𝑎−𝑠 𝑎−𝑠

𝟏
=
𝒔−𝒂

Linearity of the Laplace Transform

L { a f(t) + b g(t) } = a L { f(t) } + b L { g(t) }

Example:

1) Find the transform of 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ 𝑎𝑡

Solution:

We know from our elementary knowledge on identities that,

1 𝑎𝑡
𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ 𝑎𝑡 = (𝑒 + 𝑒 −𝑎𝑡 )
2
Thus,

1
L (f) = L (cosh 𝑎𝑡) = L {2 (𝑒 𝑎𝑡 + 𝑒 −𝑎𝑡 )}

1 1
= L (𝑒𝑎𝑡 ) + L (𝑒−𝑎𝑡 )
2 2

1 ∞ −𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑡 1 ∞ −𝑠𝑡 −𝑎𝑡

= ∫ 𝑒 𝑒 𝑑𝑡 + ∫ 𝑒 𝑒 𝑑𝑡
2 0 2 0

1 ∞ −(𝑠−𝑎)𝑡 1 ∞
= ∫ 𝑒 𝑑𝑡 + ∫ 𝑒 −(𝑠+𝑎)𝑡 𝑑𝑡
2 0 2 0

1 1 1 1
= ( )+ ( )
2 𝑠−𝑎 2 𝑠+𝑎

1 2𝑠
= ( 2 )
2 𝑠 − 𝑎2
𝒔
=
𝒔𝟐 − 𝒂𝟐
Try!
Find the transform of 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉 𝒂𝒕.
Use the identity,

1 𝑎𝑡
𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ 𝑎𝑡 = (𝑒 − 𝑒 −𝑎𝑡 )
2
Answer:
𝒂
𝒔𝟐 − 𝒂𝟐

Prepared by:

Engr. Reymart Jay G. Adaya

Faculty, College of Engineering
University of Southern Mindanao- Kidapawan City Campus
 ME 221: Advanced Engineering Mathematics for ME
NOTES

s- Shifting: Replacing s by s-a in the Transform

First Shifting Theorem

If f(t) has the transform F(s) (where s > k for some k), then 𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑓(𝑡) has the transform F(s-a)
(where s-a > k), or,

L {𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒇(𝒕)} = 𝑭 (𝒔 − 𝒂)

Example:

1) Find the inverse of the transform

3𝑠 − 137
L (f) =
𝑠2 + 2𝑠 + 401

Solution:

−1 3 (𝑠+1)−140
𝑓(𝑡) = L { ( )2 }
𝑠+1 +400

−1 𝑠+1 −1 20
=3L { }−7L { }
(𝑠 + 1)2 + 202 (𝑠 + 1)2 + 202

Let S = s + 1, then

−1 𝑺 −1 20
=3L { 2 2
}−7L { }
𝑺 + 20 𝑺 + 202
2

and referring to the table of Laplace Transforms, we see a familiar pattern, thus
we get,

Prepared by:

Engr. Reymart Jay G. Adaya

Faculty, College of Engineering
University of Southern Mindanao- Kidapawan City Campus
 ME 221: Advanced Engineering Mathematics for ME
NOTES

= 3 cos 20𝑻 − 7 sin 20𝑻

Note that T is a dummy representation for our assumption of S as it is s-shifted.

Thus, we still need to finalize this expression in consideration with the shift and
by the First Shifting Theorem. Thus,

𝒇(𝒕) = 𝒆−𝒕 (𝟑 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝒕 − 𝟕 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝒕)

2) Find the inverse of the transform

𝑠
𝐹(𝑠) =
𝐿2 𝑠2 + 𝑛2𝜋 2

Solution:

−1 𝑠
𝑓(𝑡) = L { }
𝐿2 𝑠2 + 𝑛2𝜋 2

−1 𝑠
= L { }
(𝐿𝑠) + (𝑛𝜋)2
2

𝑠
= L
−1
{ 𝐿2 }
𝑛𝜋 2
(𝑠)2 +( )
𝐿
1 −1
𝑠
= L { }
𝐿2 𝑛𝜋 2
(𝑠)2 + ( )
𝐿

𝟏 𝒏𝝅
𝒇(𝒕) = 𝟐
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒕
𝑳 𝑳

Test your understanding:

1) Determine L (cos 𝜋𝑡) using the definition of Laplace Transform as an “integral

transform”.

𝒔
Answer: L (𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝝅𝒕) =
𝒔𝟐 +𝝅𝟐

−1 4𝑠+32
2) Find L ( ).
𝑠 2 −16

Answer: 𝒇(𝒕) = 𝟒(𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒉 𝟒𝒕 + 𝟐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉 𝟒𝒕)

3) Find the transform of 0.5𝑒 −4.5𝑡 sin 2𝜋𝑡.

𝝅
Answer: 𝒇(𝒕) = (𝒔+𝟎.𝟒𝟓)𝟐 +𝟒𝝅𝟐

𝑘0 (𝑠+𝑎)+ 𝑘1
4) Find the inverse of the transform
(𝑠+𝑎)2

Answer: L −𝟏 (𝒇(𝒕)) = 𝒆−𝒂𝒕 (𝒌𝟎 + 𝒌𝟏 )

Prepared by:

Engr. Reymart Jay G. Adaya

Faculty, College of Engineering
University of Southern Mindanao- Kidapawan City Campus
 ME 221: Advanced Engineering Mathematics for ME
NOTES

Strengthen your knowledge:

1) Find F(s) if 𝒇(𝒕) = 𝒔𝒊𝒏 (𝝎𝒕 + 𝜽).

2) Find the transform of 𝒌𝒆−𝒂𝒕 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝝎𝒕.

𝑎0 𝑎 𝑎2
3) Find the inverse transform of + 12 + .
𝑠+1 (𝑠+1) (𝑠+1)3

Prepared by:

Engr. Reymart Jay G. Adaya

Faculty, College of Engineering
University of Southern Mindanao- Kidapawan City Campus