CHAPTER

5
LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
5.1 Introduction and Denition
In this section we introduce the notion of the Laplace transform. We will use
this idea to solve dierential equations, but the method also can be used to
sum series or compute integrals. We begin with the denition:
Laplace Transform
Let f(t) be a function whose domain includes (0, ) then the Laplace trans-
form of f(t) is:
L(f(t))(s) =
_

0
f(t)e
st
dt
Note that the Laplace transform of a function is another function whose
variable is usually denoted as s. Also note that the Laplace transform involves
an improper integral. We compute the Laplace transform of several functions:
Example 5.1 Compute the Laplace transform of f(t) = 1
127
128 CHAPTER 5. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
Solution:
L(1)(s) =
_

0
1e
st
dt = lim
c

1
s
e
st

c
0
In order for this limit to exist, we must insist that s = 0 and that s > 0 so
that e
sc
has a limit (of zero). When s > 0, we obtain

1
s
lim
c
(e
sc
1) =
1
s
So
L(1)(s) =
1
s
; s > 0.

Example 5.2 Compute the Laplace transform of f(t) = t

Solution:
L(t)(s) =
_

0
te
st
dt
We integrate by Parts (letting u = t and dv = e
st
dt) to obtain:
_
te
st
dt =
1
s
te
st

1
s
2
e
st
,
so
_

0
te
st
dt = lim
c
_

1
s
te
st

1
s
2
e
st
_

c
0
In order for this limit to exist, we again must insist that s = 0 and that s > 0
so that e
sc
has a limit (of zero). We obtain

1
s
lim
c
(ce
sc
0)
1
s
2
lim
c
(e
sc
1)
which exists for s > 0 and after LHopitals rule yields
L(t)(s) =
1
s
2
; s > 0.

The previous example can be upgraded to nd the Laplace transform of

f(t) = t
n
for any positive integer n.
5.1. INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION 129
Example 5.3 Show that if f(t) = t
n
, for any positive integer n then
L(t
n
)(s) =
n
s
L(t
n1
)(s)
Solution:
L(t
n
)(s) =
_

0
t
n
e
st
dt
We integrate by Parts (letting u = t
n
and dv = e
st
dt) to obtain:
_
t
n
e
st
dt =
1
s
t
n
e
st
+
1
s
_
nt
n1
e
st
dt,
so
_

0
t
n
e
st
dt = lim
c
_

1
s
t
n
e
st
_

c
0
+
n
s
L(t
n1
)(s).
In order for this limit to exist, we again must insist that s = 0 and that s > 0
so that e
sc
has a limit (of zero). Using LHopitals rule n times, we see that
lim
c
_

1
s
c
n
e
sc
_
= 0.

Using this result inductively, we compute:

L(t
2
)(s) =
2
s
L(t)(s) =
2
s

1
s
2
=
2
s
3
L(t
3
)(s) =
3
s
L(t
2
)(s) =
3
s

2
s

1
s
2
=
6
s
4
L(t
4
)(s) =
4
s
L(t
3
)(s) =
4
s

3
s

2
s

1
s
2
=
24
s
5
Note that in all cases above, we must have s > 0. In summary,
Laplace Transform of single term monic polynomials
L(t
n
)(s) =
n!
s
n+1
; s > 0
130 CHAPTER 5. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
Linear Combinations and Laplace Transform
Theorem 5.4 Let f(t) and g(t) be functions with Laplace transforms F(s)
and G(s) respectively then for any constants a and b
L(af(t) + bg(t))(s) = aF(s) + bG(s)
Proof:
L(af(t) + bg(t))(s) =
_

0
[af(t) + bg(t)]e
st
dt
=
_

0
af(t)e
st
dt +
_

0
bg(t)e
st
dt = aF(s) + bG(s)

From this result we can take the Laplace transform of any arbitrary poly-
nomial in the next example,
Example 5.5 Find L(4t
3
+ 8t
2
7)(s)
Solution:
L(4t
3
+ 8t
2
7)(s) = 4L(t
3
)(s) + 8L(t
2
)(s) 7L(1)(s)
= 4
_
6
s
4
_
+ 8
_
2
s
3
_
7
1
s
=
24
s
4
+
16
s
3

7
s
,
where s > 0.
Laplace Transform of exponential functions
L(e
at
)(s) =
1
s a
; s > a
5.1. INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION 131
Proof:
L(e
at
)(s) =
_

0
e
at
e
st
dt
=
_

0
e
(as)t
dt,
which can be integrated with respect to t (use u = (a s)t and du = (a
s) dt). We obtain
= lim
b
1
a s
e
(as)b

1
a s
The above limit exists exactly when s > a, so
L(e
at
)(s) =
1
s a
, s > a

Example 5.6 Find

L(2
t
)(s)
Solution: Rewriting 2
t
= e
ln2
t
= e
tln2
and taking a = ln 2,
L(e
(ln2)t
)(s) =
1
s ln 2
, s > ln 2

Lastly,
Laplace Transform of sine and cosine
L(cos(t))(s) =
s
s
2
+
2
, s > 0
L(sin(t))(s) =

s
2
+
2
, s > 0
132 CHAPTER 5. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
We derive the second formula and leave the derivation of the rst formula
as an exercise. By denition:
L(sin(t))(s) =
_

0
e
st
sin(t) dt.
Using integration by parts with u = sin(t) and dv = e
st
dt we obtain
_

0
e
st
sin(t) dt =
1
s
sin(t)e
st

_

0
(

s
)e
st
cos(t) dt.
Using parts again with u = cos(t) and dv = e
st
dt, we obtain
=
1
s
sin(t)e
st

0
+ (

s
)
_
(
1
s
)e
st
cos(t)

_

0
(

s
)e
st
sin(t) dt
_
From the squeeze theorem we see that for s > 0 lim
c
e
sc
cos(c) = 0 and
lim
c
e
sc
sin(c) = 0, so the above reduces to
= (

s
2
)
_

2
s
2
__

0
(e
st
sin(t) dt
Now recall that the left-hand side of this equation (what we were solving
for) is
_

0
e
st
sin(t) dt
so we have
_

0
e
st
sin(t) dt =
_

s
2
_

2
s
2
__

0
e
st
sin(t) dt
So moving the term with the integral on the right side to the left side
gives
_

0
e
st
sin(t) dt +
_

2
s
2
__

0
e
st
sin(t) dt = (

s
2
)
Factoring,
_
1 +

2
s
2
__

0
e
st
sin(t) dt = (

s
2
)
So
_

0
e
st
sin(t) dt =
(

s
2
)
_
1 +

2
s
2
_ =

s
2
+
2
5.1. INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION 133
NOTE: It is customary to use the independent variable s for a function
that is an output of a Laplace transform and the independent variable t for
a function that is an output of a Laplace transform. This convention will be
handy in the later sections.
The below result gives a condition that guarantees the existence of the
Laplace transform.
A condition that guarantees the existence of L[f(t)](s)
Suppose that there are numbers and M so that
|f(t)| Me
t
for all t > 0. Then the Laplace transform of f(t) exists with a domain of at
least s > .
Proof: Suppose that there are numbers and M so that
|f(t)| Me
t
for all t > 0. Then
L(|f(t)|)(s) = lim
b
_
b
0
e
st
|f(t)| dt

_

0
e
st
Me
t
dt = ML[e
t
](s) =
M
s
,
for s > .
Therefore, since
_
b
0
e
st
|f(t)| dt
is increasing in b and bounded for all b,
lim
b
_
b
0
e
st
|f(t)| dt
exists. This implies that
lim
b
_
b
0
e
st
f(t) dt
134 CHAPTER 5. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
also must exist.
Note that most all exponential functions, polynomials, and the trig func-
tions sine and cosine satisfy this condition but ln x, tan x and e
t
2
do not.
These functions do not have Laplace transforms.
Exercises
1. Compute L[f(t)](s) for f(t) = 0.
2. Compute L[f(t)](s) for
f(t) =
_
1 if t < 8
0 if t 8.
3. Compute L[f(t)](s) for
f(t) =
_
_
_
t if t < 1
2 t if 1 t < 2
0 if t 2.
4. Compute the formula for L[cosh(t)](s), where is a constant.
5. Compute L[sinh(t)](s),
6. Find the Laplace transform of
f(t) =
_

_
t 8 if t < 8
e
t+6
if 8 < t < 10
t
2
if 10 < t < 11
0 if t > 11.
In 7-12, take the Laplace transform of the function f(t) using the results
in this section (do not derive using the denition)
7. f(t) = t
3
7t
2
+ 8
8. f(t) = 4 sin t 3 cos t
9. f(t) = cos(2t) e
9t
10. f(t) = 1 + 7 sin(5t)
5.1. INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION 135
11. f(t) = cosh(t), where is a constant. (Recall cosh(z) =
e
z
+e
z
2
).
12. f(t) = sinh(t), where is a constant. (Recall sinh(z) =
e
z
e
z
2
).
In 13-15, use the denition to take the Laplace transform of the function
f(t) using integration by parts and formulas given in this section
13. f(t) = te
t
14. f(t) = t sin(2t)
15. f(t) = t
2
cos(t)
16. Recall that L[f(t) +g(t)] = L[f(t)] +L[g(t)]. Is it true in general that
L[f(t) g(t)] = L[f(t)] L[g(t)]?
(a) Try f(t) = t and g(t) = 1 to see if L[f(t) g(t)] = L[f(t)] L[g(t)].
(b) Is it ever true that L[f(t) g(t)] = L[f(t)] L[g(t)]?
136 CHAPTER 5. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
5.2 Laplace Transforms, The Inverse Laplace
Transform, and ODEs
In this section we will see how the Laplace transform can be used to
solve dierential equations. The key result that allows us to do this is
the following:
Laplace Transform of y

(t)
Suppose that L[y(t)](s) exists and that y(t) is dierentiable (0, ) with
derivative y

(t) then
L[y

(t)](s) = sL[y(t)](s) y(0)

Proof: By denition,
L[y

(t)](s) =
_

0
e
st
y

(t) dt
Setting u = e
st
and dv = y

(t) dt and using integration by parts, we

obtain
L[y

(t)](s) = e
st
y(t)

0

_

0
(s)e
st
y(t) dt
For s big enough, lim
c
e
sc
y(c) = 0, since the Laplace transform of
y(t) exists (this follows since the continuous integrand of a convergent
improper integral must tend to zero we will not prove this fact here.)
So we obtain
L[y

(t)](s) = y(0) + sL[y(t)](s)

From this result, we derive:

Laplace Transform of y

(t)
Suppose that L[y(t)](s) exists and that y(t) is twice dierentiable on (0, )
with second derivative y

(t) then
L[y

(t)](s) = s
2
L[y(t)](s) sy(0) y

(0)
5.2. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS, THE INVERSE LAPLACE TRANSFORM, ANDODES137
Proof: We simply us the previous result twice
L[y

(t)](s) = sL[y

(t)](s) y

(0) = s [sL[y(t)](s) y(0)] y

(0).

Example 5.7 Solve y

(t) = t using the Laplace Transform

Solution: Taking the Laplace transform of both sides we obtain
L[y

(t)](s) = L[t]
L[y

(t)](s) =
1
s
2
so
s
2
L[y(t)](s) sy(0) y

(0) =
1
s
2
Solving for L[y(t)](s) we obtain
L(y(t))(s) =
1
s
4
+
y(0)
s
+
y

(0)
s
2
Now if we could reverse engineer which function y(t) has Laplace trans-
form equal to the right hand side, then we would be done.
By playing a bit, we can see that y(t) =
1
6
t
3
+
y(0)
2
+ y

(0)t has this

Laplace transform. So voila! We have solved the dierential equation.
(Note that the general solution obtained from undetermined coecients
would be y(t) =
1
6
t
3
+ C
1
+ C
2
t which agrees with our solution since
y(0) and y

(0) are unspecied constants.)

The above example illustrates a common checklist for solving DEs using
the Laplace transform:
1. Transform the original problem to one involving L(y(t))(s),
138 CHAPTER 5. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
2. Solve for L[y(t)](s),
3. Undo the Laplace transform to recover y(t).
Denition 5.8 A continuous function f(t) is the Inverse Laplace
Transform of a function F(s) if L[f(t)](s) = F(s). In this case, we
write f(t) = L
1
[F(s)]
It is customary shorthand notation to denote F(s) to be the Laplace
transform of f(t) and G(s) to be the Laplace transform of g(t). For
constants a, b, since
L[af(t) + bg(t)] = aL[f(t)] + bL[g(t] = aF(s) + bG(s)
we see that
L
1
[aF(s) + bG(s)] = af(t) + bg(t)
or
L
1
[aF(s) + bG(s)] = aL
1
[F(s)] + bL
1
[G(s)],
so the Laplace transform of a linear combination is the linear combi-
nation of the Laplace transforms.
The following table lists several inverses which come from the previous
section:
Some Basic Inverse Laplace Transform Facts
F(s) L
1
[F(s)]
1
s
1
n!
s
n+1
t
n
1
sa
e
at
s
s
2
+
2
cos t

s
2
+
2
sin t
aF(s) + bG(s) af(t) + bg(t)
Example 5.9 Find L
1
_
7
s
3

5.2. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS, THE INVERSE LAPLACE TRANSFORM, ANDODES139

Solution:
L
1
_
7
s
3
_
= 7L
1
_
1
s
3
_
We multiply the inner fraction by
2
2
to obtain the form in the previous
table.
= 7L
1
_
2
2s
3
_
=
7
2
L
1
_
2
s
3
_
=
7
2
t
2

Example 5.10 Find L

1
_
2s1
s
2
+4

Solution:
L
1
_
2s 1
s
2
+ 4
_
= 2L
1
_
s
s
2
+ 4
_
L
1
_
1
s
2
+ 4
_
Again, the inner fraction of the second must be multiplied by
2
2
to put
it in the form in the table ( = 2 since
2
= 4).
= 2 cos 2t L
1
_
2
2(s
2
+ 4)
_
= 2 cos 2t
1
2
L
1
_
2
s
2
+ 4
_
= 2 cos 2t
1
2
sin 2t

Example 5.11 Solve y

(t) + 9y(t) = e
4t
with y(0) = 1 and y

(0) = 0
140 CHAPTER 5. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
Solution: We rst take the Laplace transform of both sides to obtain
L[y

(t) + 9y(t)] = L[e

4t
]
s
2
L[y(t)] sy(0) y

(0) + 9L[y(t)] =
1
s 4
(s
2
+ 9)L[y(t)] =
1
s 4
+ s
L[y(t)] =
1
(s 4)(s
2
+ 9)
+
s
s
2
+ 9
We use partial fractions to decompose the rst term into a sum of terms
that are recognizable inverses.
Noting that by partial fractions:
1
(s 4)(s
2
+ 9)
=
A
s 4
+
Bs + C
s
2
+ 9
,
where A =
1
25
B =
1
25
C =
4
25
. Substituting in, we obtain
L[y(t)] =
1
25
_
1
s 4
_

1
25
_
s
s
2
+ 9
_

4
25
_
1
s
2
+ 9
_
+
s
s
2
+ 9
L[y(t)] =
1
25
_
1
s 4
_
+
24
25
_
s
s
2
+ 9
_

4
25
_
1
s
2
+ 9
_
So
y(t) =
1
25
e
4t
+
24
25
cos 3t
4
75
sin 3t
(note that the 3 appeared in the demoninator since = 3 and in order
to nd L
1
_
1
s
2
+ 9
_
we multiply the inner fraction by
3
3
.)
We end this section by noting the following extension
5.2. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS, THE INVERSE LAPLACE TRANSFORM, ANDODES141
Laplace Transform of y
(n)
(t)
Suppose that L[y(t)](s) exists and that y(t) is dierentiable n times on (0, )
with n
th
derivative y
(n)
(t) then
L[y
(n)
(t)](s) = s
n
L[y(t)](s)s
n1
y(0)s
n2
y

(0)... sy
(n2)
(0)y
(n1)
(0)
Exercises
In 1-7, nd the Inverse Laplace transform of the function F(s).
You may need partial fractions
1. F(s) =
1
s+2
2. F(s) =
1
s
4
3. F(s) =
s+5
s
2
+16
4. F(s) =
4
s+6
5. F(s) =
1
(s+1)(s
2
+1)
6. F(s) =
s
(s+1)(s
2
+1)
7. F(s) =
3
s
3
+s
8. Use the Laplace transform to nd the general solution of
y

+ 6y

+ 5y = t
9. Use the Laplace transform to nd the general solution of
y

y = e
t
10. Use the Laplace transform to nd the general solution of
y

+ y = e
t
11. Use the Laplace transform to nd the solution of the IVP
y

+ y = 2, y(0) = 1, y

(0) = 1
12. Use the Laplace transform to nd the solution of the IVP
y

+ 2y

+ y = 2, y(2) = 1, y

(2) = 1
(Hint: nd the general solution rst).
142 CHAPTER 5. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
5.3 Advanced Properties of the Laplace
Transform
In this section, we look at several theorems which can be used to solve
DEs using the Laplace transform method. We start with:
Laplace Transform Exponential Shift Theorem (Forward)
L[e
at
f(t)](s) = L[f(t)](s a) = F(s a)
Eectively, this says L[e
at
f(t)](s) is equal to L[f(t)](w), (using w for the
traditional s in the denition) and replacing w = s a.
Proof: By denition:
L[e
at
f(t)] =
_

0
e
at
e
st
f(t) dt
=
_

0
e
(sa)t
f(t) dt.
Also by denition,
L[f(t)](s a) =
_

0
e
(sa)t
f(t) dt.

We can use this result to compute Laplace transforms of exponentials

multiplied by functions whose Laplace transforms we already know.
Example 5.12 Find L[e
2t
cos(3t)](s)
Solution: By the shifting theorem
L[e
2t
cos(3t)](s) = L[cos(3t)](s (2)) = L[cos(3t)](s + 2) =
5.3. ADVANCED PROPERTIES OF THE LAPLACE TRANSFORM 143
The Laplace transform of cos(3t) with (dierent) variable w is
L[cos(3t)](w) =
w
w
2
+ 3
2
,
so, replacing w with s + 2,
= L[cos(3t)](s + 2) =
s + 2
(s + 2)
2
+ 9
.
=
s + 2
s
2
+ 4s + 13
.
Further note that in order for L[cos(3t)](w) to exist, w > 0 so the
domain is s + 2 > 0 or s > 2.
Example 5.13 Find L[t
3
e
t
](s)
Solution: By the shifting theorem
L[t
3
e
t
](s) = L[t
3
](w) =
6
w
4
,
where w = s 1, so
L[t
3
e
t
](s) =
6
(s 1)
4

Similarly, we obtain the following result:

Laplace Transform Exponential Shift Theorem (Backward)
L
1
[F(s a)]) = e
at
f(t),
where F(w) is the Laplace transform of f(t) (with variable w).
144 CHAPTER 5. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
To apply this result, we look for familiar outputs of Laplace transforms
with the variable s replaced by a shift.
Example 5.14 Find L
1
_
24
(s8)
5
_
Solution: This is just a shift of
24
w
5
which is the Laplace transform of t
4
(with variable w0. So
24
(s8)
5
=
F(s 8) where F is the Laplace transform of f(t) = t
4
. Therefore, by
the Exponential Shifting Theorem
L
1
[F(s 8)] = e
8t
t
4
.

Example 5.15 Find L

1
_
s
s
2
+2s+5

Solution: The trick here is to complete the square in the denominator

and then use the backward shift theorem.
s
s
2
+ 2s + 5
=
s
s
2
+ 2s + 1 + 4
=
s
(s + 1)
2
+ 4
We also need an s+1 in the numerator to use the backwards shift with
cosine, so we write the numerator as:
=
s + 1 1
(s + 1)
2
+ 4
=
s + 1
(s + 1)
2
+ 4

1
(s + 1)
2
+ 4
Now we can take the inverse of each term using the backward shift
theorem to get
L
1
_
s
s
2
+ 2s + 5
_
= L
1
_
s + 1
(s + 1)
2
+ 4
_
L
1
_
1
(s + 1)
2
+ 4
_
5.3. ADVANCED PROPERTIES OF THE LAPLACE TRANSFORM 145
= e
t
cos 2t
1
2
e
t
sin 2t

The next result equates dierentiation of the Laplace transform F with

respect to s to the Laplace transform of the product tf(t).
Dierentiation Theorem
Let F(s) be the Laplace transform of f(t). Then
d
ds
[F(s)] = L[tf(t)](s)
or

d
ds
[F(s)] = L[tf(t)](s)
Proof: By denition:
F

(s) = lim
s0
F(s + s) F(s)
s
Note that
F(s+s)F(s) =
_

0
e
(s+s)t
f(t) dt
_

0
e
st
f(t) dt =
_

0
[e
(s+s)t
e
st
]f(t) dt
So
F(s + s) F(s)
s
=
_

0
e
(s+s)t
e
st
s
f(t) dt
Therefore
lim
s0
F(s + s) F(s)
s
=
_

0
lim
s0
e
(s+s)t
e
st
s
f(t) dt
146 CHAPTER 5. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
Noting that lim
s0
e
(s+s)t
e
st
s
is the denition of
d
ds
(e
st
), we know
this limit is te
st
.
Substituting, we obtain
F

(s) =
_

0
(te
st
)f(t) dt.
By denition, the right hand side is L[tf(t)](s)
We provide several examples which illustrate how to use this result.
Example 5.16 Find L[te
2t
]
By the Theorem,
L[tf(t)](s) = F

(s).
Here f(t) = e
2t
, so F(s) =
1
s2
.
Now
F

(s) = (s 2)
2
so
L[te
2t
](s) = ((s 2)
2
) =
1
(s 2)
2

Note that we could have also obtained this answer by using the Forward
Exponential Shift Theorem.
Example 5.17 Find L[t cos(3t)]
By the Theorem,
L[tf(t)](s) = F

(s).
Here f(t) = cos(3t), so F(s) =
s
s
2
+9
.
Now
F

(s) =
(s
2
+ 9) s(2s)
(s
2
+ 9)
2
=
9 s
2
(s
2
+ 9)
2
5.3. ADVANCED PROPERTIES OF THE LAPLACE TRANSFORM 147
so
L[t cos(3t)](s) =
9 s
2
(s
2
+ 9)
2
=
s
2
9
(s
2
+ 9)
2

Next we solve several dierential equations using these new results.

Example 5.18 Find the general solution to y

+ 6y

+ 6y = sin 2t
Taking the Laplace transform, we obtain
L[y

+ 6y

+ 10y] = L[sin 2t]

so
s
2
L sy(0) y

(0) + 6sL 6y(0) + 10L =

2
s
2
+ 4
(here L is shorthand for L[y(t)](s)), so
(s
2
+ 6s + 10)L = sy(0) + y

(0) + 6y(0) +
2
s
2
+ 4
Solving for L,
L =
sy(0) + y

(0) + 6y(0) +
2
s
2
+4
s
2
+ 6s + 10
=
sy(0)
s
2
+ 6s + 6
+
y

(0) + 6y(0)
s
2
+ 6s + 10
+
2
(s
2
+ 4)(s
2
+ 6s + 10)
(5.1)
We now have to use the inverse Laplace transform. We start with the
rst term, which we will have to write as a shift by completing the
square of the denominator. In particular the rst term is
sy(0)
(s + 3)
2
+ 1
which we can rewrite as
sy(0)
(s + 3)
2
+ 1
=
(s + 3 3)y(0)
(s + 3)
2
+ 1
=
(s + 3)y(0)
(s + 3)
2
+ 1

3y(0)
(s + 3)
2
+ 1
.
148 CHAPTER 5. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
We can invert this using the shift theorem, so the inverse of the rst
term is:
y(0)e
3t
cos t 3y(0)e
3t
sin t
Similarly, the second term in ?? can be realized as a shift, It is
y

(0) + 6y(0)
(s + 3)
2
+ 1
which has inverse transform
(y

(0) + 6y(0))e
3t
sin t.
Lastly, we use partial fractions on the nal term to get
2
(s
2
+ 4)(s
2
+ 6s + 10)
=
As + B
s
2
+ 4
+
Cs + D
s
2
+ 6s + 10
where A =
1
15
, B =
1
15
, C =
1
15
, D =
1
3
. (The reader should be familiar
with the method of Partial Fractions, normally covered in a second
semester calculus class).
We again can easily invert the rst term
As + B
s
2
+ 4
= A
s
s
2
+ 4
+
B
2
2
s
2
+ 4
which inverts to
Acos 2t +
B
2
sin 2t.
The second term, after again setting up for the shifting theorem by
completing the square, becomes
Cs + D
s
2
+ 6s + 10
=
C(s + 3 3)
(s + 3)
2
+ 1
+
D
(s + 3)
2
+ 1
= C
(s + 3)
(s + 3)
2
+ 1
+ (D 3C)
1
(s + 3)
2
+ 1
Taking the inverse, we obtain:
5.3. ADVANCED PROPERTIES OF THE LAPLACE TRANSFORM 149
= Ce
3t
cos t + (D 3C)e
3t
sin t
Putting it altogether,
y(t) = y(0)e
3t
cos t 3y(0)e
3t
sin t + (y

(0) + 6y(0))e
3t
sin t
+Ce
3t
cos t + (D 3C)e
3t
sin t

1
15
cos 2t +
1
30
sin 2t,
where C =
1
15
, D =
1
3
.
Note that this simplies to
y(t) = (y(0) + C)e
3t
cos t + ((D 3C) + y

(0) + 3y(0))e
3t
sin t

1
15
cos 2t +
1
30
sin 2t.
If we had used the method of undetermined coecients, we would have
obtained (possibly in a lot less time)
y(t) = C
1
e
3t
cos t + C
2
e
3t
sin t
1
15
cos 2t +
1
30
sin 2t.

The previous example could (and probably should) have been solved
using other methods. The next example is one where these other meth-
ods would not apply.
Example 5.19 Find the solution to
y

+ ty

2y = 2, y(0) = 0, y

(0) = 0
150 CHAPTER 5. LAPLACE TRANSFORMS
We take the Laplace transform of both sides of the dierential equation.
L[y

] +L[ty

] 2L[y] =
2
s
,
s
2
L[y]
d
ds
(L[y

]) 2L[y] =
2
s
,
s
2
L[y]
d
ds
(sL[y]) 2L[y] =
2
s
,
Using the product rule, note
d
ds
(sL[y]) = sL

[y] + L[y] (recall: L[y] is

also a function of s). So,
s
2
L[y] sL

[y] L[y] 2L[y] =

2
s
,
or
(s
2
3)L[y] sL

[y] =
2
s
,
This is a rst order linear dierential equation in L with variable s!
L

[y] +
_
s +
3
s
_
L[y] =
2
s
2
,
This has integrating factor e

s
2
2
+3 ln s
which simplies to s
3
e

s
2
2
, so
L[y] =
_
s
3
e

s
2
2
(
2
s
2
) ds + C
s
3
e

s
2
2
This resolves to
2e

s
2
2
+ C
s
3
e

s
2
2
We take C = 0 and obtain L[y] =
2
s
3
(all other choices do not give valid
outputs of Laplace transforms).
5.3. ADVANCED PROPERTIES OF THE LAPLACE TRANSFORM 151
Which implies that y(t) = t
2
solves the DE. (One may easily check
that, indeed y(t) = t
2
does solve the DE/IVP.
Exercises
In 1-8, solve the ODE/IVP using Laplace Transform
1. y

+ 4y

+ 3y = 0, y(0) = 1, y

(0) = 0
2. y

+ 4y

+ 3y = t
2
, y(0) = 1, y

(0) = 0
3. y

3y

+ 2y = sin t, y(0) = 0, y

(0) = 0
4. y

3y

+ 2y = e
t
, y(0) = 1, y

(0) = 0
5. y

2y = t
2
, y(0) = 1, y

(0) = 0
6. y

4y = e
2t
, y(0) = 0, y

(0) = 1
7. y

+ 3ty

y = 6t, y(0) = 0, y

(0) = 0
8. y

+ty

3y = 2t, y(0) = 0, y

(0) = 1 (You will need integration

by parts or use technology)