SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

MODULE 2
LAPLACE TRANSFORM

INTRODUCTION
Laplace Transform is widely used by electronic engineers to solve
quickly differential equations occurring in the analysis of
electronic circuits. In system modeling, Laplace Transform is used to
simplify calculations in system modeling, where large number of
differential equations are used.
The Laplace Transform can be interpreted as a transformation from
time domain where inputs and outputs are functions of time to the
frequency domain where inputs and outputs are functions of complex
angular frequency.
Laplace Transform methods have a key role to play in the modern
approach to the analysis and design of engineering system. The
concepts of Laplace Transforms are applied in the area of science and
technology such as Electric circuit analysis, Communication
engineering, Control engineering and Nuclear physics etc.
The Laplace equations are used to describe the steady-state
conduction heat transfer without any heat sources or sinks. Laplace
equations can be used to determine the potential at any point between
two surfaces when the potential of both surfaces is known.

OBJECTIVE
After completing this module, you should be able to have an
understanding how to use Laplace Transform in Science and
Engineering fields, specifically, Control Engineering.

DISCUSSION

The Laplace transform, named after its inventor Pierre-Simon

Laplace (/ləˈplɑːs/), is an integral transform that converts a
function of a real variable t (often time) to a function of
a complex variable (complex frequency). The transform has many
applications in science and engineering because it is a tool for
solving differential equations. In particular, it transforms
differential equations into algebraic equations
and convolution into multiplication.

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 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

Transform of Elementary Functions

Below are some functions f(t) and their Laplace transforms F(s).

Properties of Laplace Transform

1. Constant Multiple
If a is a constant and f(t) is a function of t, then

Laf(t)  aL f (t )

Example: L4cost   4 Lcos t 

2. Linearity Property
If a and b are constant while f(t) and g(t) are functions of t
whose Laplace transform exists, then

Laf(t)  bg(t)  aL f (t ) bLg (t )

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 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

Example: f (t )  5t  2

Solution:
L(5t  2)  5 L(t )  sL(1)
 1  1
L(5t  2)  5 2   2 
s  s
5 2
L(5t  2)  2 
s s
1
L(5t  2)  2 5  2 s 
s

3. First Shifting Property

If Lf(t)  F ( s ) . then,
 
L e at f(t)  F s  a 

Example: Find the Laplace transform of f (t )  e 2t t 3 .

Solution:
n!
L (t n ) 
s n 1
3!
L (t 3 )  31
s
6
L (t 3 )  4
s
Thus,
 
L e 2t t 3 
6
s  2 4

4. Secondary Shifting Property

 f t  a  ta
If Lf(t)  F ( s ) , and g t    , then
0 ta

Lg(t)  e  as F ( s )

 f t  12 t 1
Example: Find the Laplace transform of g (t )  
0 t 1

Solution:
Lg t   e  as F (s)
F ( s)  L(t 2 ) and a=1

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 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

2
F ( s) 
s3
Thus,
2
Lg t   e  s  3 
s 
2e  s
Lg t   3
s

5. Change of Scale Property

If Lf(t)  F ( s ) , then,
1 s
Lf(at) 
F 
a a
Example: Supposed that the Laplace transform of a certain function
s2  s 1
f t  is , find the Laplace transform of f(2t).
2s  1s  1

Solution:
1 s
If Lf(at)  F   , then by change of scale property,
a a
s2  s 1
Lf(t) 
2s  12 s  1
2
s s
     1
1 2 2
Lf(2t)  x    2 
2  s  s 
2 2   1  2  1
     

 s2   s 
     1
1  4   2 
Lf(2t)  x
2
s  12  s  1
2 

1 4
1 2

s  2s  4 
Lf(2t)  x
2 1 s  12 s  2 
2

Lf(2t) 

s  2s  4
2

4s  1 s  2 
2

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 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

6. Multiplication by Power of t
If Lf(t)  F ( s ) , then,

 
L t n f(t)  1
n dn
ds n
F s    1 F n  s 
n

Where n=1, 2, 3, …

Example: Find the Laplace transform of f t   t cos 2t .

Solution:

 
L t n f(t)  1
n dn
ds n
F s 

s
Lcos2t 
s  22
2

s
Lcos2t  2
s 4
1
1 d  s 
Ltcos2t  1 1  2
ds  s  4 
 ( s 2  4)(1)  s(2 s) 
Ltcos2t    
 ( s 2  4) 2 
 s 2  4  2s 2 
Ltcos2t    2 2 
 ( s  4) 
4  s2
Ltcos2t  

s2  4
2

s 4
2
Ltcos2t 
s 2
4 
2

7. Division by t
If Lf(t)  F ( s ) , then,
 f t  

L    F u du
 t  s
 f t 
Provided lim   exists.
t 0
 t 

sin t
Example: Find the Laplace transform of f (t )  .
t
Solution:

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 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

1
Lsint  
s 1
2


 sint  du
L  2
 t  s u 1
 sint 
  arctan u s

L
 t 
 sint 
  limarctan u s
a
L
 t  a  

 sint 
L   limarctan a  arctan s 
 t  a 

Let
z=arctan a - arctan s
x=arctan a, tan x = a
y=arctan s, tan y = s

Hence,
z = x - y

tan z = tan (x-y)

tan x  tan y
tan z 
1  tan x tan y
as
tan z 
1  as
as
z  arctan
1  as
 as 
arctan a  arctan s  arctan 
 1  as 

Thus,

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 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

 sint    a  s 
L   lim arctan 
 t  a  
  1  as  
  a s 
   
 sint 
L   lim arctan a a 
 t  a    1  as 
 
  a a 
  s 
  1  
 sint  a
L   lim arctan 
 t  a 
 1
  s 
 
 a 
 s 
1 
 sint 
L   arctan  
 t   1 s
 
a 
 s 
1 
 sint 
L   arctan  
 t   1 s
 
a 
 sint   1 0 
L   arctan 
 t  0 s 
 sint  1
L   arctan 
 t  s

8. Transforms of Derivatives
The Laplace transform of the derivative f’(t) exists when s > a,
and

Lf' (t)  sL f t  f 0 

In general, the Laplace transform of nth derivative is

 
L f n (t)  s n L f t  s n 1 f 0   s n  2 f ' 0   s n 3 f " 0 

For first-order derivative:

Lf' t   sL f t  f (0)

For second-order derivative:

Lf" t   s 2 L f t  sf (0)  f ' (0) Lf" t   s 2 L f t  sf (0)  f ' (0)

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 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

For third-order derivative:

Lf" ' t   s 3 L f t  s 2 f (0)  sf ' (0)  f " (0)

Proof of Laplace Transform of Derivatives


Lf' t    e  st f ' (t )dt
0

Using integration by parts,

u  e  st
du   se  st dt
dv  f ' (t )dt
v  f (t )

Thus,


 
Lf' t   e  st f (t ) 0   f (t )( se  st dt )


0
 
 f (t ) 
Lf' t    st   s  e  st f (t )dt )
 e 0 0

 f (t ) 
Lf' t    st   sL f t 
 e 0

Apply the limits from 0 to ∞:


 f (t ) 
Lf' t    st   sL f t 
 e 0
 f ( ) f (0) 
Lf' t     0   sL f t 
 e e 
Lf' t   f (0)  sL f t 
Lf' t   sL f t   f (0)

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 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

Example: Find the Laplace transform of f (t )  t 3 using the transform

of derivatives.

Solution:

f (t )  t 3 ........... f (0)  0
f ' (t )  3t 2 ........ f ' (0)  0
f " (t )  6t......... f " (0)  0
f " ' (t )  6

L f " ' t   s 3 L f t  s 2 f (0)  sf ' (0)  f " (0)

L(6)  s 3 L(t 3 )  s 2 f (0)  sf ' (0)  f " (0)
L(1)  s 3 L(t 3 )  s 2 (0)  s(0)  (0)
1
6   s 3 L(t 3 )
s
6
s 3 L(t 3 ) 
s
6
L(t 3 )  4
s

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 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

Inverse of Transform

From Lf(t)  F ( s ) , the value f(t) is called the inverse Laplace

transform of F(s). In symbol,
L-1F(s)  f (t )
where L-1 is called the inverse Laplace Transform operator.

To find the inverse transform, express F(s) into partial fractions

which will, then, be recognizable as one of the following standard
forms.

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 SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

Theorem 1.
If a and b are constants,
L-1af(s)  bg(s)  aL1 f ( s )  bL1 g ( s )

Theorem 2.
L-1f(s)  e  at L1 f s  a 

8  3s  s 2
Example 1: Find the inverse transform of .
s3

Solution:

 8  3s  s 2  1  8 3s s 2 
L1    L  3   
 s3  s s3 s3 
 8  3s  s 2  1  1  1  1  1  1 
L1  3   8 L  3   3L  2   L  
 s  s  s  s
 8  3s  s 2   t 31   t 21 
L1    8    3  1
 s3   3  1!  2  1!
 8  3s  s 2  t2 t
L1  3   8  3 1
 s  2 1
 8  3s  s 2 
L1  3   4t  3t  1
2

 s 

Example 2: Find the inverse transform of .

Solution:
 5 4s   1  1  s 
L1   2   5 L1    4L  2 
 s  2 s  9  s2  s 9
 5 4s  1  s 
L1   2   5e 2t L1    4 L1  2 2 
 s  2 s  9 s s 3  5 4s
 2
 5 4s  s2 s 9
L1   2   5e 2t 1  4 cos 3t
 s  2 s  9
 5 4s 
L1   2   5e  4 cos 3t
2t

 s  2 s  9

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
LUCBAN, QUEZON

Name: ______________________________ Date: ___________

(Surname, Firstname, M.I)
Subject: ___________________________ Section: ________

SKILL-ASSESSMENT EXERCISES 2

7 7 6
1. Find the inverse transform of . (Ans. sin 6t )
s 6 2
6
 s5 
2. Perform the indicated operation: L1  2 .
 s  s  6
8 3
(Ans. e 3t  e 2t )
5 5
3. Find the Laplace transform of f (t )  sin 2 t using the transform of
2
derivatives. (Ans. )
s s 4
2
 
4. Find the Laplace transform of f (t )  e 5t using the transform of
1
derivatives. (Ans. )
s 5
sin 2 t 1  s2  4 
5. Find the Laplace transform of f (t )  . (Ans. ln 2  )
t 4  s 
2 s ( s 2  27)
6. Find the Laplace transform of f (t )  t 2 cos 3t . (Ans. )
9
3
s 2

7. Supposed that the Laplace transform of a certain funtion f (t ) is
s2  s 1
, find the Laplace transform of f(2t).
(2 s  1) 2 ( s  1)
s 2  2s  4
(Ans. )
4s  1 s  2
2

 f (t  2)3 t  2
8. Find the Laplace transform of g (t )  
0 t2
6e 2 s
(Ans. )
s4
2
9. Find the Laplace transform of f (t )  et sinh 2t .(Ans. )
s  2s  3
2

10. By using the linearity property, show that

s
L(cosh at )  .
s  a2
2

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