3 2 InverseLaplace Summary
3 2 InverseLaplace Summary
Outcome
Determine the inverse Laplace transform of a given function by
• first completing the square of a quadratic term in the denominator of the function,
• first resolving the denominator into partial fractions, and/or
• applying standard formulas in a table.
Pre-knowledge
Besides being familiar with the content of the table of Laplace transforms, you should also be able to
☛ Keep you table of Laplace transforms next to you. Alternatively, you memorized the Laplace
transforms and recall them as needed.
EXAMPLE 1
Here are a few examples. The numbers in brackets below the equal sign indicate the rule used.
F(s) f(t)
3 1
a) F ( s) = = 3 f (t ) = 3
s s (1)
5 1!
b) F ( s) = = 5 1+1 f (t ) = 5t
s
2
s (2)
1 1 3! 1
c) F ( s) = = f (t ) = t 3
s 4 3! s 3+1 (2) 6
2
d) F ( s) = f (t ) = 2e3t
s −3 (7)
s
e) F ( s) = f (t ) = cos 2t
s +4
2 (4)
3 3 2 3
f) F ( s) = = 2 f (t ) = sin 2t
s +4 2 s +4
2 (3) 2
s
h) F ( s) = f (t ) = cosh 2t
s −4
2 (6)
3 3 1
i) F ( s) = = f (t ) = 53 et / 5
5s − 1 5 s − 15 (7)
6 2
j) F ( s) =
s 3
= 3 2+1
s
f (t ) = 3t 2
(2)
✔
ACTIVITY 1
Determine the inverse Laplace transforms of:
1 3
1. 2.
s −5 s5
2s 3
3. 4.
s + 81
2
2s
1 2 3
5. − 6.
s +1 s −1 ( s − 1) 2
s 1
7. 8.
s − 25
2
2s − 6
s −3 3
9. 10.
( s − 3) 2 + 4 ( s − 3) 2 + 4
6s 6s
11. 12.
( s + 9) 2
2
( s − 9) 2
2
s2 − 4 s2 + 4
13. 14.
( s 2 + 4) 2 ( s 2 − 4) 2
1
15. 16. Y ( s)
( s + 16)2
2
3 3
17. 18.
s − 11
2
( s − 3)5
will directly lead you to the inverse. In order to answer this question, we need to use either partial
fractions or completion of the square.
NB!
It is quite often useful to write a given transform as the sum of fractions (partial fractions) whose
inverse transforms are already known or can be read from a table of Laplace transforms. Revise
partial fractions before you continue!
EXAMPLE 2
1 1
, that is, determine f (t ) if F ( s) = 2
−1
Determine 2 .
s + 6s + 8 s + 6s + 8
SOLUTION
Method 1: Partial fractions
1 1 A B
Rewrite: = = +
s + 6s + 8 ( s + 2)( s + 4) s + 2 s + 4
2
Thus,
1 1 1 1
A= = and B = =−
−2 + 4 2 −4 + 2 2
so that
1
− 12 1 1 1 1
F ( s) = 2
+ = −
s+2 s+4 2 s+2 2 s+4
and hence
f (t ) = 12 e −2t − 12 e −4t .
s 2 + 6s + 8 = (s + 3)2 − 1
so that
1 1
F (s) = = .
s + 6s + 8 ( s + 3) 2 − 1
2
−1 1 1 −2t 1 −4t
let's compare the two answers. Using partial fractions 2 = 2 e − 2 e . However,
s + 6s + 8
−1 1 −3t
by completing the square, 2 = e sinh t . Surely those two answers should be the
s + 6s + 8
same! Let's check.
EXAMPLE 3
−3t −2 t −4 t
Is e sinh t = 12 e − 12 e ? Motivate your answer with relevant calculations.
SOLUTION
We know that
et − e − t
sinh t = .
2
Thus,
NB!
Every function has a unique Laplace transform but the inverse Laplace transform may seem to be not
unique. It is, however, possible to prove the inverse Laplace transform is unique.
NB!
Which method is "best"? It depends on the problem. Sometimes the denominator has no real factors
and then we have no choice as is the case in the next example.
EXAMPLE 4
−1 s +1
Determine 2 .
s + 6s + 25
SOLUTION
The denominator has no real factors. Completion of the square yields
Because of the format of the fraction with an s in the numerator we can only use rule 10.
However, to use thus rule we need ( s + 3) in the numerator but we have ( s + 1) . We
therefore write
(s + 1) = (s + 3) − 2
so that
−1 s +1 −1 s +1
2 =
s + 6s + 25 ( s + 3) + 16
2
s+3 2
= −1 −
( s + 3) + 16 ( s + 3) + 16
2 2
1
f (t ) = e−3t cos 4t − e−3t sin 4t ✔
2
NB!
Remember the following factors:
ACTIVITY 2
1. Determine the inverse Laplace transforms of the following using partial fractions:
1 s
1.1 1.2
s +1
3
( s + 2)3
s+4 5s 2 + 9 s + 8
1.3 1.4
( s + 4)( s − 1)
2
( s + 3)( s 2 + 4)
2s + 3 2 s 2 + 11s − 9
1.5 1.6
s + 6s + 8
2
s ( s 2 + 2s − 3)
2. Determine the inverse Laplace transforms of the following by completing the square in the
denominator.
1 s
2.1 2.2
s + 2s + 5
2
s + 2s + 5
2
2s − 5
3. Consider F ( s ) = .
s − 6s + 18
2
3 4s − 3
4.1 4.2
s − 4s + 13
2
s − 4s − 5
2
26 − s 2 2s + 2
4.3 4.4
s ( s 2 + 4s + 13) s + 2s + 10
2
5s 2 + 8s − 1 3s 2 + 16s + 15
4.5 4.6
( s + 3)( s 2 + 1) ( s + 3)3
1
1. Answer: f (t ) = e5t
s −5
3 t4
2. Answer: f (t ) =
s5 8
2s
3. Answer: f (t ) = 2cos9t
s + 81
2
3 3
4. Answer: f (t ) =
2s 2
1 2
5. − Answer: f (t ) = e−t − 2et
s +1 s −1
3
6. Answer: f (t ) = 3tet
( s − 1) 2
s
7. Answer: f (t ) = cosh 5t
s − 25
2
1 1 3t
8. Answer: f (t ) = e
2s − 6 2
s −3
9. Answer: f (t ) = e3t cos 2t
( s − 3) 2 + 4
3
Answer: f (t ) = 32 e sin 2t
3t
10.
( s − 3) 2 + 4
6s
11. Answer: f (t ) = t sin 3t
( s + 9) 2
2
6s
12. Answer: f (t ) = t sinh 3t
( s − 9) 2
2
s2 − 4
13. Answer: f (t ) = t cos 2t
( s 2 + 4) 2
s2 + 4
14. Answer: f (t ) = t cosh 2t
( s 2 − 4) 2
1 1
15. Answer: f (t ) = ( sin 4t − 4t cos 4t )
( s + 16)2
2
128
ACTIVITY 2
1. Determine the inverse Laplace transforms of the following using partial fractions:
1
1.1
s +1
3
1 −t −t / 2 1 3t 3 t/2 3t
Answer: f (t ) = e + e − cos + e sin
3 3 2 3 2
1 A Bs + C 1 1 2
Partial fractions: = + 2 A = , B = − ,C =
s +1 s +1 s − s +1
3
3 3 3
s
1.2
( s + 1)3
t2
Answer: f (t ) = e− t t −
2
s A B C
Partial fractions: = + + A = 0, B = 1, C = −1
( s + 1) 3
s + 1 ( s + 1) ( s + 1)3
2
s+4
1.3
( s + 4)( s − 1)
2
Answer: f (t ) = et − cos 2t
s+4 As + B C
Partial fractions: = 2 + A = −1, B = 0, C = 1
( s + 4)( s − 1) s + 4 s − 1
2
5s 2 + 9 s + 8
1.4
( s + 3)( s 2 + 4)
5s 2 + 9 s + 8 A Bs + C
Partial fractions: = + 2 A = 2, B = 3, C = 0
( s + 3)( s + 4) s + 3 s + 4
2
2s + 3
1.5
s + 6s + 8
2
2s 2 + 11s − 9
1.6
s( s 2 + 2s − 3)
Answer: f (t ) = et − 2e−3t + 3
2s 2 + 11s − 9 A B C
Partial fractions: = + + A = 2, B = 1, C = −2
s( s + 2s − 3) s s − 1 s + 3
2
2. Determine the inverse Laplace transforms of the following by completing the square in the
denominator.
1
2.1 Answer: f (t ) = e − t sin t
s + 2s + 5
2
1 1
Hint: =
s + 2s + 5 ( s + 1) 2 + 4
2
s
2.2 Answer: f (t ) = e − t ( cos 2t − 12 sin 2t )
s + 2s + 5
2
s ( s + 1) − 1
Hint: =
s + 2s + 5 ( s + 1) 2 + 4
2
s +1 −t
2.3 Answer: f (t ) = e cosh 3t
s + 2s − 2
2
s +1 s +1
Hint: =
s + 2s − 2 ( s + 1) 2 − 3
2
s +1 −3t 1
2.4 Answer: f (t ) = e cos 4t − sin 4t
s + 6s + 25
2
2
s +1 ( s + 3) − 2
Hint: =
s + 6s + 25 ( s + 3) 2 + 16
2
2s − 5
3. Consider F ( s ) = .
s − 6s + 8
2
3 4t 1 2t
3.1.1 partial fractions and Answer: f (t ) = e + e
2 2
3.2 Hence show that these two answers are the same. Discussion.
3
4.1 Answer: f (t ) = e2t sin 3t
s − 4s + 13
2
4s − 3 17 5t 7 −t
4.2 Answer: f (t ) = e + e (partial fractions)
s − 4s − 5
2
6 6
26 − s 2
4.3 Answer: f (t ) = 2 − e −2t ( 3cos 3t + 23 sin 3t )
s ( s 2 + 4s + 13)
26 − s 2 A Bs + C
Partial fractions: = + 2 A = 2, B = −3, C = −8
s( s + 4s + 13) s s + 4s + 13
2
2s + 2
4.4 Answer: f (t ) = 2e−t cos3t
s + 2s + 10
2
5s 2 + 8s − 1
4.5 Answer: f (t ) = 2e−3t + 3cos t − sin t
( s + 3)( s 2 + 1)
5s 2 + 8s − 1 A Bs + C
Partial fractions: = + 2 A = 2, B = 3, C = −1
( s + 3)( s + 1) s + 3 s + 1
2
3s 2 + 16s + 15
4.6
( s + 3)3
(
Answer: f (t ) = 3 − 2t − 3t e
2
)
−3t
3s 2 + 16s + 15 A B C
Partial Fractions: = + + A = 3, B = −2, C = −6
( s + 3) 3
s + 3 ( s + 3) ( s + 3)3
2
Example 1
Expand the following expressions and simplify.
a) ( x + 3)2 − 5 b) ( x − 1) 2 − 5
SOLUTION
a) ( x + 3) 2 − 5 = ( x 2 + 6 x + 9 ) − 5
= x2 + 6 x + 4
b) ( x − 1) 2 − 5 = x 2 − 2 x + 1 − 5
= x2 − 2 x − 4 ✔
Now "reverse" the actions of Example 1, that is, start with the answer and write it as the sum or
difference of a perfect square and a constant.
• x2 + 6 x + 4 = ( x + 3)2 − 5 and
• x2 − 2 x − 4 = ( x −1)2 − 5
The technique is called "complete the square" and is often used in determining the inverse Laplace
transform of an expression. See, for example, rules 9 to 12 in the table of Laplace transforms.
a
9. f (t ) = ebt sin at F ( s) =
( s − b) 2 + a 2
s −b
10. f (t ) = ebt cos at F ( s) =
( s − b) 2 + a 2
a
11. f (t ) = ebt sinh at F ( s ) =
( s − b) 2 − a 2
s −b
12. f (t ) = ebt cosh at F ( s) =
( s − b) 2 − a 2
How do we "complete the square"? Any quadratic trinomial ax2 + bx + c may be written in the form
b b2
a ( x + d ) 2 + e where d = and e = c − . You may either memorize these two formulas or
2a 4a
follow the steps shown below. Make sure you make no calculation mistakes, whichever method you
prefer.
a) x2 + 6 x + 4 and b) x 2 + 12 x + 13
SOLUTION
a) x 2 + 6 x + 4 = x 2 + 6 x + ( 3) − ( 3) + 4
2 2
Check:
6 =3
2 subtract
6
𝑑= =3
= x2 + 6 x + 9 − 9 + 3 2
Factorize 𝑒 =4−
36
= −5
4
= ( x + 3) 2 − 9 + 4
= ( x + 3) 2 − 5
Check:
v) x 2 + 12 x + 13 = x 2 + 12 x + ( 6 ) − ( 6 ) + 13
2 2
12
12 = 6
2 subtract 𝑑=
2
=6
144
= x 2 + 6 x + 62 − 36 + 13 𝑒 = 13 − = −23
4
Factorize
= ( x + 6) − 23
2
✔
Example 3
Complete the square: s 2 − 8s + 3
SOLUTION
s 2 − 8s + 3 = s 2 − 8s + 16 − 16 + 3
( 82)
2
= ( s − 4 ) − 16 + 3
2
= ( s − 4 ) − 13 ✔
2
Now complete the square in each of the following. Do you agree with the given answer?
Practice
1. s 2 − 4s + 3 2. s 2 + 6s − 8
3. s 2 − 10s + 2 4. s 2 + 7s + 1
5. s 2 − 6s + 25 6. s 2 − 4s − 5
7. s 2 − 5s + 3 8. s 2 − 6s + 18
ANSWERS
1. ( s − 2) 2 − 1 2. (s − 3)2 − 17
( s − 5) 2 − 23 (s + 72) − 45 4
2
3. 4.
5. (s − 3)2 + 16 6. (s − 2)2 − 9
(s − 52) − 13 4 ( s − 3) 2 + 27
2
7. 8.
(s + 72) − 45 4 (s − 4)2 − 7
2
9. 10.
1 A B
= + +
( s + 1)( s − 1) s + 1 s −1
1 A B C
= + +
( s + 1) 3
s + 1 ( s + 1) ( s + 1)3
2
that is, the number of undetermined coefficients equals the exponent of the repeated
factor.
3.3 If there is one or more non-linear factor, write the expression as
1 A Bs + C
= + 2
( s + 1)( s + 1) s + 1 s + 1
2
that is, two undetermined coefficients for each non-linear factor. (If the factor was of
degree 3, you would need three undetermined coefficients, etc.)
REMEMBER!
☝ Recall the "hiding" method? This method works only for distinct linear factors and the
repeating factor with the highest exponent; it does not work for other repeating factors!
EXAMPLE 1
2s + 1
Write as partial fractions.
s + 5s + 6
2
SOLUTION
n d no long division.
s 2 + 5s + 6 = (s + 2)(s + 2)
2s + 1 5 3
= −
s + 5s + 6 s + 3 s + 2
2 ✔
EXAMPLE 2
2s + 5
Express as partial fractions.
s + 2s + 1
2
SOLUTION
n d no long division.
s 2 + 2s + 1 = (s + 1)2
2s + 5 A B
= +
( s + 1) 2
s + 1 ( s + 1) 2
The "hiding" method can't be used because both denominators will be 0 when s = −1 is
substituted. let's choose values of s "wisely":
A = 2; B = 3
2s + 5
=
2
+
3
✔
s + 2s + 1 s + 1 ( s + 1) 2
2
☛ IMPORTANT WARNING! When resolving into partial fractions, don't do it in the following
way!
1 A Bs + C
= +
s ( s + 1) 2
s ( s + 1) 2
1 −s − 2
1
s ( s + 1) 2
= +
s ( s + 1) 2
. ✘
Although the answer is mathematically correct, it is not the answer to the question! The right-
hand side can be simplified!
1 − s − 2 1 −( s + 1) − 1 1 s +1 1 1 1 1
+ = + = − − = − −
s ( s + 1) 2
s ( s + 1) 2
s ( s + 1) ( s + 1)
2 2
s s + 1 ( s + 1) 2
1 A B C
= + +
s ( s + 1) 2
s s + 1 ( s + 1) 2
EXAMPLE 3
3s 2 + 2 s + 1
Resolve into partial fractions.
( s + 1)( s 2 + 1)
SOLUTION
n d no long division.
Non-linear factor:
3s 2 + 2s + 1 A Bs + C
= + 2
( s + 1)( s + 1) s + 1 s + 1
2
3(−1)2 + 2(−1) + 1 3 − 6 + 1
s = −1 A = = =1
( s + 1)( s 2 + 1) (−1)2 + 1
3s 2 + 2s + 1 1 Bs + C
= + 2
( s + 1)( s + 1) s + 1 s + 1
2
1 1 C
s = 0: = + C =0
(1)(1) 1 2
3 + 2 +1 1 B + 0
s = 1: = + B=2
(2)(2) 2 2
3s 2 + 2s + 1 1 2s
= + 2 ✔
( s + 1)( s + 1) s + 1 s + 1
2
EXAMPLE 4
5s 2 − 2s − 19
Resolve into partial fractions: f ( s ) = .
s 3 + s 2 − 5s + 3
SOLUTION
Factorize the denominator using your Casio:
Solve 𝑠3 + 𝑠 2 − 5𝑠 + 3 = 0
5s − 2s − 19
2
5s − 2s − 19
2
= Solution: 𝑠 = −3 or 𝑠 = 1 twice
s + s − 5s + 3 ( s + 3)( s − 1) 2
3 2
5s 2 − 2s − 19 A B C
= + +
( s + 3)( s − 1) 2
s + 3 s − 1 ( s − 1) 2
Use the "hiding" method to solve for A and C.
5(−3) 2 − 2(−3) − 19
s = −3 : A = =2
( s + 3)(−3 − 1) 2
5 − 2 − 19
s = 1: C = = −4
(1 + 3)( s − 1) 2
2 3 4
f (s) = + −
s + 3 s − 1 ( s − 1) 2 ✔
EXAMPLE 5
3 + 6s + 4s 2 − 2s3
Write g ( s ) = as partial fractions.
s 4 + 3s 2
SOLUTION
3 + 6s + 4s 2 − 2s 3 A B Cs + D
g ( s) = = + 2+ 2
s 2 ( s 2 + 3) s s s +3
3
s +0: B = 2
=1
s (3)
Thus,
3 + 6s + 4s 2 − 2s 3 A 1 Cs + D
= + 2+ 2
s 2 ( s 2 + 3) s s s +3
Now use values of s to obtain a system of three equations in three unknowns to solve for A, B
and C.
11 A 1 C + D 7 1 1
s = 1:
= + + = A+ C + D
4 1 1 4 4 4 4
3 A 1 −C + D 1 1 1
s = −1: = + + − = −A− C + D
4 −1 1 4 4 4 4
15 A 1 2C + D 2 1 2 1
s = 2: = + + = A+ C + D
18 2 4 7 7 2 7 7
Use your clever Casio to solve:
A = 2; B = −4; C = 3
g (s) =
2 1 −4s + 3
+ +
✔
s s2 s2 + 3
NB!
2 1 −4s + 3 2 1 4s + 3
Note g ( s ) = + + 2 + 2− 2 .
s s2 s +3 s s s +3
−4s + 3 4s − 3
+ =− 2
s +3
2
s +3
ACTIVITY
Write as partial fractions and use MATLAB to check your answers (none given here!).
2 − 5s s +1
1. 2.
( s − 6)( s 2 + 11) s ( s + 2)
s2 + 1 s+9
3. 4.
s 2 ( s + 2) s − 2s − 3
2
1 1
5. 6.
( s + 1)( s − 1) 2 s + 5s 3 + 7 s 2
4
s2 + s + 4 3s 2 + 5s + 5
7. 8.
( s 2 + 1)( s 2 + 4) s( s 2 + 4s + 5)