Laplace Transformations Translation Theorems

We will now cover some more complicated Lapalce Transformations:

First Translation Theorem

The First Translation Theorem states:

\(\mathcal {L} \{ e^{at} f(t) \} = F(s - a)\)

The inverse of the theorem is simply:

\(\mathcal {L}^{-1} \{ F(s-a) \} = e^{at} f(t)\)

Evaluate \( \mathcal {L} \{ e^{2t} \sin (\pi t) \} \).

We realize that the expression is in the format of the First Translation Theorem. We know that:

\( \mathcal {L} \{ \sin (\pi t) \} = \cfrac{\pi}{s^2 + {\pi}^2} \).

The solution will be \(F (s-a)\) where \(a = 2\):

\( \mathcal {L} \{e^{2t} \sin (\pi t) \} = \cfrac{\pi}{(s-2)^2 + {\pi}^2} \).


Evaluate \(\mathcal {L}^{-1} \left \{\cfrac{1}{(s+5)^3} \right\}\).

The expression is in the form \(\cfrac{1}{s^3}\) hinting the inverse is in the form \(t^2\):

\( \mathcal {L}^{-1} \left \{ \cfrac{1}{s^3} \right \} = \cfrac{2!}{2!} \mathcal {L}^{-1} \left \{ \cfrac{1}{s^3} \right \} = \cfrac{1}{2!} \mathcal {L}^{-1} \left \{ \cfrac{2!}{s^3} \right \} = \cfrac{t^2}{2}\)

Since the denominator was \(s+5\), we need to add \(e^{-5t}\):

\( \mathcal {L}^{-1} \left \{ \cfrac{1}{(s+5)^3} \right\} = \cfrac{1}{2} e^{-5t}t^2 \)


Second Translation Theorem

The Second Translation Theorem states:

\( \mathcal {L} \{ f(t-a) \mathcal {U} (t-a) \} = e^{-as}F(s) \)

The inverse of the theorem is simply:

\( \mathcal {L}^{-1} \{ e^{-as}F(s) \} = \mathcal {L} \{ f(t-a) \mathcal {U} (t-a) \} \)

Where \(\mathcal {U} (t-a) \) is the heaviside function or unit step function which is an "on/off" function:

\(\mathcal{U} (t-a) = \begin{cases} 0, & \text{if } 0 \le t \lt a \\ 1, & \text{if } t \ge a \end{cases}\)

Evaluate \(\mathcal {L} \{f(t)\}\) if \(f(t) = \begin{cases} \sinh {(t)}, & \text{if } 0 \le t \lt \frac{\pi}{8} \\ \sinh {(t)} + \cos {(t - \frac{\pi}{8})}, & \text{if } t \ge \frac{\pi}{8} \end{cases} \).

We can use the unit step function to rewrite \(f(t)\):

\(f(t) = \sinh {(t)} + \mathcal{U}(t - \frac{\pi}{8}) (\cos {(t - \frac{\pi}{8})} ) \)

Now we can use the Second Translation Theorem given:

\( \mathcal{L} \{ \cos {t} \} = \cfrac{s}{s^2 + 1}\)

\( \mathcal{L} \{ f(t) \} = \cfrac{1}{s^2-1} + e^{-\frac{\pi}{8}s} \cfrac{s}{s^2 + 1} \)


Evaluate \(\mathcal {L}^{-1} \{e^{-5s} \cfrac{s}{s^2 + 10}\}\).

We realize that the expression is in the form of the Second Translation Theorem. First, evaluate:

\( \mathcal {L}^{-1} \{ \cfrac{s}{s^2 + 10} \} = \cos {\sqrt{10}t } \)

Now we apply the Second Translation Theorem:

\( \mathcal {L}^{-1} \{ e^{-5s}\cfrac{s}{s^2 + 10} \} = \mathcal{U} (t-5) \cos {(\sqrt{10}(t-5)) } \)


Derivative Theorem

The Derivative Theorem state:

\(\mathcal {L} \{ t^n f(t) \} = (-1)^n \cfrac{d^n}{ds^n} F(s)\)

You are less likely to use the inverse as the derivative of \(F(s)\) may be simplified making it challenging to identify that this theorm can be used.


Evaluate \(\mathcal{L} \{ t^2e^{3t} \}\).

Since there is a \(t^2\) multiplied to another function, we can use the Derivative Theorem:

\( \mathcal{L} \{ t^2e^{3t} \} = (-1)^2 \cfrac{d^2}{ds^2} F(s)\)

\( F(s) = \mathcal{L} \{ e^{3t} \} = \cfrac{1}{s-3}\)

\( \cfrac{d^2}{ds^2} \left ( \cfrac{1}{s-3} \right ) = \cfrac{d}{ds} \left ( \cfrac{-1}{(s-3)^2} \right )= \cfrac{2}{(s-3)^2}\)

\( \mathcal{L} \{ t^2e^{3t} \} = (-1)^2 \cfrac{d^2}{ds^2} F(s) = \cfrac{2}{(s-3)^2}\)

Note we could have also used the First Translation Theorem with \(f(t) = t^2\).


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