Math 265, Fall 2008 Test 2 Solutions

1. Find the Laplace transform of the function shown in the graph.

3

2.5

1.5

0.5

1 2 3 4 5
-0.5

-1

Solution:
There are two ways to solve this problem: using direct integration, or by writing the
problem as a sum of unit-step type functions.
(a) By direct integration:
Z ∞ Z 2 Z 4
−st −st
L[f (t)] = f (t)e dt = 2e dt + (4 − t)e−st dt
0
 −s  1  −2s 2
  −4s 
e e−2s e e−4s e e−2s 4e−4s 2e−2s
= 2 − +4 − − − 2 + 2 − +
s s s s s s s s
2 −s
1 −4s

= e + 2 e − e−2s
s s
(b) By using a sum of functions and the table of Laplace transforms:
f (t) = 2u1 (t) − 2u2(t) + u2 (t)(4 − t) − u4 (t)(4 − t)
= 2u1 (t) − 2u2(t) + 4u2(t) − tu2 (t) − 4u4 (t) + tu4 (t)
   
e−s e−2s e−2s d e−2s e−4s d e−4s
L[f (t)] = 2 −2 +4 + −4 +
s s s ds s s ds s
e−s e−2s e−2s −2se−2s − e−2s e−4s −4se−4s − e−4s
= 2 −2 +4 + − 4 −
s s s s2 s s2
2 −s
1

= e + 2 e−4s − e−2s
s s

1
2. Solve the initial value problem using Laplace transform. Answers obtained using any
other method will not receive any points.
−y ′′ + 2y ′ − 2y = 4 cos(t) + 2 sin(t), y(0) = 0, y ′(0) = 0
Solution:
Take the LT of the equation:
s 1
(−s2 + 2s − 2)L[y(t)] = 4 + 2
s2 + 1 s2 + 1
4s + 2
L[y(t)] =
(s + 1)(−s2 + 2s − 2)
2

As + B Cs + D
= 2
+ 2
s +1 s − 2s + 2
We must have
(As + B)(s2 − 2s + 2) + (Cs + D)(s2 + 1) = −4s − 2
(A + C)s3 + (−2A + B + D)s2 + (C − 2B + 2A)s + 2B + D = −4s − 2
which leads to
  
2 −4s + 3 −4s + 11
L[y(t)] = − 2
5 s2 + 1 s − 2s + 2
  
2 s 1 −4(s − 1) + 7
= −4 2 +3 2 −
5 s +1 s +1 (s − 1)2 + 1
  
2 s 1 (s − 1) 1
= −4 2 +3 2 +4 −7
5 s +1 s +1 (s − 1)2 + 1 (s − 1)2 + 1
The first two expressions are the LTs of cos t and sin t. The third expression is the LT
of a cosine function, but with argument (s − 1). Therefore the third term is the LT of
et cos t. The fourth expression is similarly the LT of et sin t. Summarizing, we have solved
the problem for y(t):
 
2
−4 cos t + 3 sin t + 4et cos t − 7et sin t .


y(t) =
5

2
3. Find the inverse Laplace transforms of the indicated functions:
(a)
2
F (s) = 2
s + 3s − 4
(b)
2s + 1
G(s) = 2
s − 2s + 2
Solution:

(a) One way to do this is to factor and use partial fractions:

 
2 2 2 1 1
L[f (t)] = F (s) = 2 = = − .
s + 3s − 4 (s − 1)(s + 4) 5 s−1 s+4
Using the table, it is easy to work out that f (t) = (2/5)(et − e−4t ).
An alternative method is to complete the square:
2 2
F (s) = 2 =
s + 3s − 4 (s + 2 ) − 25
3 2
4

Using the table you get f (t) = (4/5)e−(3/2)t sinh((5/2)t). Expanding out the sinh
function, this is the same answer.
(b) Complete the square and solve:
2s + 1 2(s − 1) + 3 (s − 1) 1
L[g(t)] = G(s) = 2 = = 2 + 3 .
s − 2s + 2 (s − 1)2 + 1 (s − 1)2 + 1 (s − 1)2 + 1
g(t) = 2et cos t + 3et sin t.