7.

OPERATIONAL PROPERTIES II

Derivatives of a Transform
If F (s ) = { f (t )} and n = 1,2,3,... , then

i.e.

{ t n f (t )} = (1)n

dn
F ( s)
ds n

{ t n f (t )} = (1)n

dn
{ f (t )}
ds n

(formula 24 from the table of LT)

The above is the general formula for the Laplace transform of the product of a function
f (t ) with t n .

The table of Laplace transform gives some specific formulas involving the Laplace
transforms of the product of t with sin kt , cos kt , sinh kt and cosh kt (Formulas 15
18).

Examples : Evaluate
(1) {t sin kt} = (1)1

d1
{sin kt}
ds1

d k

ds s 2 + k 2

( s 2 + k 2 ).0 k .2 s
=

(s 2 + k 2 )2

2ks
(s + k 2 )2
2

(apply quotient rule of differentiation)

(note: s is the variable, k is the constant)

(as in formula 15 from the table of LT)

(2) t 2 sin kt = {t . t sin kt }

d1
= (1) 1 {t sin kt}
ds
1

d 2ks

ds ( s 2 + k 2 ) 2

(apply formula 15 from the table of LT)

(apply quotient rule of differentiation)

( s 2 + k 2 ) 2 .2k 2ks.2( s 2 + k 2 ).2 s

=

(s 2 + k 2 )4

( s 2 + k 2 )[2k ( s 2 + k 2 ) 8ks 2 ]
=

(s 2 + k 2 )4

2k 3 6ks 2
= 2
2 3
(s + k )

6ks 2 2k 3
( s 2 + k 2 )3

s
(3) 1
s 2 + 16

Transforms of Integrals

Convolution
If functions f (t ) and g (t ) are piecewise continuous on [0, ) , then the convolution of
f (t ) and g (t ) , denoted by f (t ) g (t ) , is defined by the integral

f (t ) g (t ) =

t
0

f ( ) g (t ) d

note:

The convolution f (t ) g (t ) is a function of t .

f (t ) g (t ) = g (t ) f (t ) , i.e. the convolution of two functions is commutative.

Example :
(4) Find t sin t .

t sin t = sin(t ) d

use integration by parts:

u =
du = d

dv = sin(t ) d
v = sin(t ) d
= cos(t )

= cos(t ) cos(t ) d

(note: is the variable, t is the constant)

= [ cos(t ) + sin(t )] 0
t

= [t cos(t t ) + sin(t t ) ] [ 0 + sin(t 0) ]

= [t cos 0 + sin 0 ] [sin t ]
= t sin t

(Transform of a Convolution)

Convolution Theorem

If the functions f (t ) and g (t ) are piecewise continuous on [0, ) , and of exponential

order, then

{ f (t ) g (t )} = { f (t )} { g (t )} = F ( s )G ( s )

Since, f (t ) g (t ) =

t
0

f ( ) g (t ) d , then

{ f (t ) g (t )} =

t
0

f ( ) g (t )d = { f (t )} { g (t )} = F ( s )G ( s )

that is,

t
0

f ( ) g (t )d = { f (t )} { g (t )} = F ( s )G ( s )
(formula 25 from the table of LT)

Examples: Evaluate

(5)

t
0

{ }

e sin ( t ) d = et {sin t}

1
1
2
s 1 s +1

1
( s 1)( s 2 + 1)

(6)

cos sin ( t ) d = {cos t} {sin t}

=

(7)

(8)

s
1
2
s +1 s +1
2

(s

+1

{ }

e d = et {1}
=

1 1

s 1 s

1
s ( s 1)

sin d = {t sin t} {1}

(9) t sin d
0

2s
1

2
( s + 1) s

2
( s + 1) 2

(firstly, apply formula 24 from the table of LT,

where f (t ) =

ds

d
[ {sin t} {1}]
ds

d 1 1

ds s 2 + 1 s

sin d

sin d )

(secondly, apply formula25 from the table of LT)

d
1
2

ds s ( s + 1)

d 1

ds s 3 + s

( s 3 + s ).0 1.(3s 2 + 1)
=

( s3 + s )2

3s 2 + 1
= 3
( s + s )2

Inverse Transform of the Convolution Theorem

OR:

{F (s)G (s)} = 0

f ( ) g (t ) d

f (t ) g ( ) d

{F (s)G (s)} = 0

(inverse of formula 25)

Examples: By using the inverse form of the convolution theorem, evaluate:

(10)

1
1 3
1
=

s ( s + 1)
s ( s + 1)

where

F (s) =

1
3
and G ( s ) =
s
( s + 1)

therefore,

f (t ) = 3

and

g (t ) = e t

implying that

f (t ) = 3 and

g ( ) = e

= 3e d
0

= 3 e d
0

= 3 e

= 3 e t (e0 )
= 3(1 e t )

(11)

1
1
1
1
= 1

2
( s + 1)
( s + 1) ( s + 1)

where

F ( s) =

1
1
and G ( s ) =
( s + 1)
( s + 1)

therefore,

f (t ) = e t

and

g (t ) = e t

implying that

f ( ) = e

and

g (t ) = e ( t )

= e e (t ) d
0

= e t + d
0
t

= e t d
0

(note: is the variable, t is the constant)

= e t d
0

= e t [ ] 0
t

= e t [t 0 ]
= te t

(12)

1
1
1

1
= 1 2
2

2
2
( s + 1) ( s + 1)
( s + 1)

where

F ( s) =

1
1
and G ( s ) = 2
s +1
s +1
2

therefore,
f (t ) = sin t

and

g (t ) = sin t

implying that
f ( ) = sin and g (t ) = sin(t )
t

= sin sin(t )d
0

From trigonometric identity,

sin A sin B =

1
[ cos( A B) cos( A + B)]
2
Let A = and B = t

1 t
[cos( (t )) cos( + (t ))] d
2 0

1 t
[cos(2 t ) cos t ] d
2 0

( is the variable, t is the constant)

1 sin(2 t )

=
cos t
2
2
0
=

1 sin(2t t )
sin(0 t )

t cos t
0.cos t

2
2
2

1 sin t
sin(t )
t cos t

2 2
2

1 sin t
sin t
t cos t +

2 2
2

1
[sin t t cos t ]
2

but, sin(t ) = sin t

Note: The convolution theorem is useful in solving equations in which an unknown

function appears under an integral sign. Examples are the Voltera integral equation and
the integrodifferential equation

Examples: Use the Laplace transform to solve:

(13)

f (t ) = 2t 4 0 sin f (t ) d

(integral equation)

(14)

dy
t
+ 6 y (t ) + 9 0 y () d = 1,
dt

(integrodifferential equation)

y ( 0) = 0

Transform of a Periodic Function

A periodic function is a function that repeats its values in regular intervals or periods.
The graph of a periodic function is obtained by periodic repetition of its graph on any
interval.
If a function f satisfies the equation f (t + T ) = f (t ) for all t 0 and for some fixed
number T , then f is called periodic, with period T .

Suppose
g (t ), 0 t < a
f (t ) =
k (t ), a t < 2a

and

f (t + 2a ) = f (t ) for all t 2a .

The above expression implies that the graph f (t ) is a piecewise continuous function on

[0, ) , and periodic with period T = 2a .

Define h(t ) = f (t ) on the interval [0,2a ] only. That is,

h(t ) is the function f (t )

specified over one period only.

 g (t ), 0 t < a
h(t ) =
k (t ), a t < 2a

The Laplace transform of the periodic function f (t ) is given by:

{ f (t )} =

1
{h(t )}
1 e sT

Example:

(15) Find the Laplace transform of the periodic function whose graph is given by

f (t )
3
0

-3

Solution:
The periodic function f (t ) has a period of T = 2 .
Firstly, express f (t ) in piecewise form, on the interval [0, ) .
3, 0 t <
f (t ) =
3, t < 2
f (t + 2 ) = f (t ) for all t 2 .

Secondly, define h(t ) as the function f (t ) specified over one period only.
3, 0 t <
h(t ) =
3, t < 2

10

In terms of the unit step function,

h(t ) = 3[ U (t 0) U (t )] 3[ U (t ) U (t 2 )]

= 3[ 1 U (t )] 3[ U (t ) U (t 2 )]
= 3 3 U (t ) 3 U (t ) + 3 U (t 2 )
= 3 6 U (t ) +3 U (t 2 )

{h(t )} = {3 6 U (t ) +3 U (t 2 )}
3 6e s 3e2 s
=
+
s
s
s
Secondly, find the { f (t )} :

{ f (t )} =
=

1
{h(t )}
1 e sT

3 6e s 3e2 s
1
+

1 e 2 s s
s
s

(16) Find the Laplace transform of the function

2t , 0 t < 2
f (t ) =
4, 2 t < 4
f (t + 4) = f (t ) for all t 4 .

Solution:
It is noted that the given function f (t ) is a periodic function, with period T = 4 .

Firstly, define h(t ) as the function f (t ) specified over one period only:
2t , 0 t < 2
h(t ) =
4, 2 t < 4

11

In terms of the unit step function,

h(t ) = 2t[ U (t 0) U (t 2)] + 4[ U (t 2) U (t 4)]
= 2t[ 1 U (t 2)] + 4[ U (t 2) U (t 4)]
= 2t 2t U (t 2) + 4 U (t 2) 4 U (t 4)
= 2t + (4 2t ) U (t 2) 4 U (t 4)

{h(t )} = {2t + (4 2t ) U (t 2) 4 U (t 4)}

= {2t + 2(2 t ) U (t 2) 4 U (t 4)}
= {2t 2(t 2) U (t 2) 4 U (t 4)}

2 2e 2 s 4e 4 s
2
s
s2
s

Secondly, find the { f (t )} :

{ f (t )} =

1
{h(t )}
1 e sT

2 2e 2 s 4e 4 s
1
=
2

1 e 4 s s 2
s
s

12