Complete Explanation and Example Laplace Transform Properties

The Laplace transform properties provide us with easy mathematical transformation quickly.

The properties of the Laplace transform help us to obtain transform pairs without directly using the equations in previous post about the definition of Laplace transform. As we derive each of these properties, we should keep in mind the definition of the Laplace transform.

Laplace Transform Properties

Laplace Transform Linearity

If F1(s) and F2(s) are, respectively, the Laplace transforms of f1(t) and f2(t), then

laplace transform properties
(1)

where a1 and a2 are constants. Equation.(1) expresses the linearity property of the Laplace transform. The proof of Equation.(1) follows readily from the definition of the Laplace transform in the Equation.(1) in Laplace Transform Definition.

For example, by the linearity property in Equation.(1), we may write

laplace transform properties
(2)

But from the Laplace Transform Definition Example 2, L[eat] = 1/(s + a). Hence,

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(3)

Laplace Transform Scaling

If F(s) is the Laplace transform of f(t), then

laplace transform properties
(4)

where a is a constant and a > 0. If we let x = at, dx = a dt, then

laplace transform properties
(5)

Comparing this integral with the Equation.(1) in Laplace Transform Definition shows that s in that equation must be replaced by s/a while the dummy variable t is replaced by x. Hence, we obtain the scaling property as

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(6)

For example, we know from the Laplace Transform Definition Example 2 that

laplace transform properties
(7)

Using the scaling property in Equation.(6),

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(8)

which may also be obtained from Equation.(7) by replacing ω with 2ω.

Laplace Transform Time Shift

If F(s) is the Laplace transform of f(t), then

laplace transform properties
(9)

But u(t − a) = 0 for t < a and u(t − a) = 1 for t > a. Hence,

laplace transform properties
(10)

If we let x = t a, then dx = dt and t = x + a. As t a, x 0 and
as
t → ∞, x → ∞. Thus,

laplace transform properties
(11)

In other words, if a function is delayed in time by a, the result in the s domain is multiplying the Laplace transform of the function (without the delay) by eas. This is called the time-delay or time-shift property of the Laplace transform.

As an example, the Equation.(3) using time-shift property in Equation.(11) will result

laplace transform properties
(12)

Laplace Transform Frequency Shift

If F(s) is the Laplace transform of f(t), then

laplace transform properties
(13)

That is, the Laplace transform of eatf(t) can be obtained from the Laplace transform of f(t) by replacing every s with s + a. This is known as frequency shift or frequency translation.

As an example, we know that

laplace transform properties
(14)

Using the shift property in Equation.(13), we obtain the Laplace transform of the damped sine and damped cosine functions as

laplace transform properties
(15a)
laplace transform properties
(15b)

Laplace Transform Time Differentiation

Given that F(s) is the Laplace transform of f(t), the Laplace transform of its derivative is

laplace transform properties
(16)

To integrate this by parts, we let u = est, du = sest dt, and dv = (df/dt) dt = df(t), v = f(t). Then

laplace transform properties
(17)

The Laplace transform of the second derivative of f (t) is a repeated application of Equation.(17) as

laplace transform properties
(18)

Continuing in this manner, we can obtain the Laplace transform of the nth derivative of f(t) as

laplace transform properties
(19)

As an example, we can use Equation.(17) to obtain the Laplace transform of the sine from that of the cosine. If we let f(t) = cos ωt, then f(0) = 1 and f(t) = –ω sin ωt. Using Equation.(17) and the scaling property,

laplace transform properties
(20)

as expected.

Laplace Transform Time Integration

If F(s) is the Laplace transform of f(t), the Laplace transform of its integral is

laplace transform properties
(21)

To integrate this by parts, we let

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and

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Then

laplace transform propertiesFor the first term on the right-hand side of the equation, evaluating the term at t = ∞ yields zero due to esand evaluating it at t = 0 gives

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Thus, the first term is zero, and

laplace transform propertiesor simply

laplace transform properties
(22)

As an example, if we let f(t) = u(t), F(s) = 1/s. Using Equation.(22),

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Thus, the Laplace transform of the ramp function is

laplace transform properties
(23)

Applying Eq. (15.28), this gives

laplace transform properties
(24)

Repeated applications of Equation.(22) lead to

laplace transform properties
(25)

Similarly, using integration by parts, we can show that

laplace transform properties
(26)

where

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Laplace Transform Frequency Differentiation

If F(s) is the Laplace transform of f(t), then

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Taking the derivative with respect to s,

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and the frequency differentiation property becomes

laplace transform properties
(27)

Repeated applications of this equation lead to 

laplace transform properties
(28)

For example, we know that L[eat] = 1/(s + a). Using the property in Equation.(27),

laplace transform properties
(29)

Note that if a = 0, we obtain L[t] = 1/s2 as in Equation.(23), and repeated applications of Equation.(27) will yield Equation.(25).

Laplace Transform Time Periodicity

If function f(t) is a periodic function such as shown in Figure.(1)

laplace transform properties
Figure 1. A periodic function

it can be represented as the sum of time-shifted functions shown in Figure.(2).

laplace transform properties
Figure 2. Decomposition of the periodic function

Thus,

laplace transform properties
(30)

where f1(t) is the same as the function f(t) gated over the interval 0 < t < T, that is,

laplace transform properties
(31a)

or

laplace transform properties
(31b)

We now transform each term in Equation.(30) and apply the time-shift property in Equation.(11). We obtain

laplace transform properties
(32)

But

laplace transform properties
(33)

if |x| < 1. Hence,

laplace transform properties
(34)

where F1(s) is the Laplace transform of f1(t); in other words, F1(s) is the transform f(t) defined over its first period only. Equation.(34) shows that the Laplace transform of a periodic function is the transform of the first period of the function divided by 1 − eT s.

Laplace Transform Initial and Final Values

The initial-value and final-value properties allow us to find the initial value f (0) and the final value f () of f (t) directly from its Laplace transform F (s). To obtain these properties, we begin with the differentiation property in Equation.(17), namely,

laplace transform properties
(35)

If we let s → ∞, the integrand in Equation.(35) vanishes due to the damping exponential factor, and Equation.(35) becomes

laplace transform properties
(36)

This is known as the initial-value theorem. For example, we know from Equation.(15a) that

laplace transform properties
(37)

Using the initial-value theorem,

laplace transform properties

which confirms what we would expect from the given f (t).

In Equation.(35), we let s → 0; then

laplace transform properties
(38)

This is referred to as the final-value theorem. In order for the final-value theorem to hold, all poles of F (s) must be located in the left half of the s plane; that is, the poles must have negative real parts.

The only exception to this requirement is the case in which F (s) has a simple pole at s = 0, because the effect of 1/s will be nullified by sF (s) in Equation.(38). For example, from Equation.(15b),

laplace transform properties
(39)

Applying the final-value theorem,

laplace transform properties

as expected from the given f (t). As another example,

laplace transform properties
(40)

so that

laplace transform propertiesThis is incorrect, because f (t) = sin t oscillates between +1 and −1 and does not have a limit as t → ∞.

Thus, the final-value theorem cannot be used to find the final value of f (t) = sin t, because F (s) has poles at s = ±j, which are not in the left half of the s plane.

In general, the final-value theorem does not apply in finding the final values of sinusoidal functions—these functions oscillate forever and do not have final values.

The initial-value and final-value theorems depict the relationship between the origin and infinity in the time domain and the s domain. They serve as useful checks on Laplace transforms.

Table.(1) provides a list of the properties of the Laplace transform. There are other properties, but these are enough for present purposes.

laplace transform properties
Table 1. Properties of the Laplace transform.

Table.(2) summarizes the Laplace transforms of some common functions. We have omitted the factor u(t) except where it is necessary.

laplace transform properties
Table 2. Laplace transform pairs.

Read also : linear transformers

Laplace Transform Properties Examples

Let’s review the Laplace transform properties below:

Laplace Transform Properties Example 1

Obtain the Laplace transform of f(t) = δ(t) + 2u(t) − 3e−2t, t ≥ 0.

Solution:
By the linearity property,

laplace transform properties

Laplace Transform Properties Example 2

Determine the Laplace transform of f (t) = t2 sin 2t u(t).

Solution:
We know that

laplace transform properties

Using frequency differentiation in Equation.(28),

laplace transform properties

Laplace Transform Properties Example 3

Find the Laplace transform of the gate function in Figure.(3).

laplace transform properties
Figure 3

Solution:
We can express the gate function in Figure.(3) as

laplace transform properties

Since we know the Laplace transform of u(t), we apply the time-shift property and obtain

laplace transform properties

Laplace Transform Properties Example 4

Calculate the Laplace transform of the periodic function in Figure.(4).

laplace transform properties
Figure 4

Solution:
The period of the function is T = 2. To apply Equation.(34), we first obtain the transform of the first period of the function.

laplace transform properties

Using the time-shift property,

laplace transform properties

Thus, the transform of the periodic function in Figure.(4) is

laplace transform properties

Laplace Transform Properties Example 5

Find the initial and final values of the function whose Laplace transform
is

laplace transform properties

Solution:
Applying the initial-value theorem,

laplace transform properties

To be sure that the final-value theorem is applicable, we check where the poles of H(s) are located. The poles of H(s) are s = −3, −4 ± j3, which all have negative real parts: they are all located on the left half of
the s plane in Figure.(5). Hence the final-value theorem applies and

laplace transform properties

Both the initial and final values could be determined from h(t) if we knew it.

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