Laplace Transform

The Laplace transform is defined as

Z ∞
L[f (t)] = F (s) = f (t)e−st dt (1)
0
where s = σ + jω, a complex variable. F (s)
is called the Laplace transform of f (t). The
inverse Laplace transform, which allows us to
find f (t) given F (s), is
Z
σ+j∞
1
−1
L [F (s)] = F (s)est ds
2πj σ−j∞
= f (t)u(t) (2)
where

u(t) = 1 t>0
= 0 t<0
is the unit step function. Multiplication of f (t)
by u(t) yields a time function that is zero for
t < 0.

1
Example: Find the Laplace transform of f (t) =
u(t).

Solution:
Z ∞
F (s) = e−stdt
0 Z
1 at
←− eatdt = e +c
a
1
= − [e(−s)∞ − e(−s)0]
s
1
=
s

2
Problem: Find the Laplace transform of f (t) =
5e−3t .

Solution:
Z ∞
F (s) = f (t)e−st dt
Z0∞
= 5e−3t e−stdt
0Z
∞
= 5 e−(s+3)tdt
0Z
at 1 at
←− e dt = e + c
a
5
= − [e−(s+3)∞ − e−(s+3)0]
s+3
5
=
s+3

3
Using Equation (1), it is possible to derive a
table relating f (t) to F (s) for specific cases.

Laplace transform table (Table A)

Item no. f (t) F (s)

1. δ(t) 1

2. u(t) 1
s

3. t 1
s2

4. tn n!
sn+1

5. e−at 1
s+a

6. sin(ωt) ω
s2+ω 2

7. cos(ωt) s
s2+ω 2

4
In addition to the Laplace transform Table, we
can use Laplace transform theorems to assist
in transforming between f (t) and F (s).

Laplace transform theorems (Table B)

Item Theorem Name
no R∞
1. L[f (t)] = F (s) = 0
f (t)e−stdt Definition

2. L[kf (t)] = kF (s) Linearity

3. L[f1 (t) + f2 (t)] = F1 (s) + F2 (s) Linearity

4. L[e−atf (t)] = F (s + a) Frequency shift

5. L[f (t − T )] = e−sT F (s) Time shift

6. L[f (at)] = 1a F ( as ) Scaling

7. L[ df
dt
] = sF (s) − f (0) Differentiation
2
8. L[ ddtf2 ] = s2 F (s) − sf (0) − f˙(0) Differentiation
n Pn
9. L[ ddtfn ] = sn F (s) − k=1
sn−k f (k−1)(0) Differentiation
Rt F (s)
10. L[ 0
f (τ )dτ ] = s
Integration

11. f (∞) = lims→0 sF (s) Final value

12. f (0) = lims→∞ sF (s) Initial value

5
Problem: Find the inverse Laplace transform
1
of F1(s) = (s+3) 2.

Solution: For this example, we make use of

the Item 3 in Table A, and Item 4 in Table B.

The Laplace transform of f (t) = t is F (s) = 12 .

s
(Item 3 in Table A)

We need to find the inverse of F (s + 3) =

1 .
(s+3)2

The inverse Laplace transform of F (s + a) =

e−atf (t) (Item 3 in Table A)

Since f (t) = t, so f1(t) = e−3t t.

6
Problem: Using Table A and B, find the Laplace
transform of the time function

f1(t) = e−5t cos(4t)

Solution: We make use of the Item 7 in Table

A, and Item 4 in Table B.

The Laplace transform of f (t) = cos(4t) is

s
F (s) = s2+4 s
2 = s2 +16 . (Item 7 in Table A)

The Laplace transform of e−atf (t) is F (s + a)

(Item 3 in Table A), so

e−5t f (t) → F (s + 5)

s+5 s+5
→ =
(s + 5)2 + 16 s2 + 10s + 41

7
Problem: Using Table A and B, find the Laplace
transform of the time function

f (t) = 3t + 4t2

Solution: We make use of the Item 3 and Item

4 in Table A, and Item 2 and Item 3 in Table
B.

The Laplace transforms of t and f (t) = t2 are

1 and 2 (Item 3 and Item 4 in Table A).
s2 s3

Applying Item 2 and Item 3 in Table B, we

have
3 4×2 3s + 8
F (3t + 4t2) = 2 + =
s s3 s3