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Subsection 9.3.1 Linearity of the Laplace Transform

The first property we’ll explore is linearity. This property is foundational because it allows us to break down and combine transforms easily. The linearity of the Laplace transform is similar to the linearity of integrals, where we can distribute the transform across addition and subtraction, and pull out constants.

Example 8.

\(\ \ \)
\begin{equation*} \lap{15 + 6e^{7t} - 11t}. \end{equation*}
Solution.
Let’s start by applying the definition of the Laplace transform:
\begin{align*} \lap{15\ +\amp\ 6e^{7t} - 11t} \\ =\amp\ \int_0^{\infty} e^{-st} \cdot \left(15 + 6e^{7t} - 11t\right)\ dt\\ =\amp\ \int_0^{\infty} \left( 15e^{-st} + 6e^{-st} \cdot e^{7t} - 11e^{-st} \cdot t \right)\ dt \end{align*}
Here, we’ve expanded the expression inside the integral. Notice that each term is something we’ve already encountered in previous sections. We can now use the linearity property to separate the integral:
\begin{align*} =\amp\ 15\int_0^{\infty} e^{-st}\cdot 1\ dt + 6\int_0^{\infty} e^{-st} \cdot e^{7t}\ dt - 11\int_0^{\infty} e^{-st} \cdot t\ dt\\ =\amp\ 15\lap{1} + 6\lap{ e^{7t} } - 11\lap{ t }. \end{align*}
We already know the Laplace transforms of these individual functions:
\begin{align*} =\amp\ \ub{\frac{15}{s}}_{s \gt 0} + 6\ub{\frac{1}{s - 7}}_{s \gt 7} - 11\ub{\frac{1}{s^2}}_{s \gt 0}. \end{align*}
To satisfy all the conditions on \(s\text{,}\) we must have \(s \gt 7\) since that ensures all terms are defined. Therefore:
\begin{equation*} \lap{15 + 6e^{7t} - 11t} = \frac{15}{s} + 6\cdot \frac{1}{s-7} - \frac{11}{s^2}, \quad s \gt 7. \end{equation*}
This example demonstrates the linearity property in action. The general statement of the linearity property is as follows: if \(a\) and \(b\) are constants, then:
\begin{equation*} \lap{ a f(t) \pm b g(t) } = a \lap{ f(t) } \pm b \lap{ g(t) }, \end{equation*}
or, equivalently:
\begin{equation*} \lap{ a f(t) \pm b g(t) } = a F(s) \pm b G(s). \end{equation*}

Laplace Transform Property \(P_1\).

\({\LARGE \vphantom{\int}}P_1\)
\(\ds \lap{ a f(t) \pm b g(t) } = a \lap{f(t)} \pm b \lap{g(t)}\)

Reading Questions Check-Point Questions

1. The Laplace transform of a constant is the constant times \(\lap{1}\).

  • True.

  • True. By the linearity property: \(\lap{c} = \lap{c\cdot 1} = c\lap{1}\text{.}\)
  • False.

  • True. By the linearity property: \(\lap{c} = \lap{c\cdot 1} = c\lap{1}\text{.}\)

2. The linearity property can be used to rewrite a Laplace transform as the sum of simpler Laplace transforms.

  • True.

  • True. The linearity property allows you to separate the Laplace transform into the sum (or difference) of the transforms of each term.
  • False.

  • True. The linearity property allows you to separate the Laplace transform into the sum (or difference) of the transforms of each term.

3. Which of the following are NOT correct applications of the linearity property?

  • \(\lap{4f(t) + 3g(t)} = 4\lap{f(t)} + 3\lap{g(t)}\)
  • No, this is a correct application of the linearity property.
  • \(\lap{4f(t) \cdot g(t)} = 4\lap{f(t)} \cdot \lap{g(t)}\)
  • Correct! The linearity property does not apply to the product of functions.
  • \(\lap{5f(t) - 2} = 5\lap{f(t)} - \lap{2}\)
  • No, this is a correct application of the linearity property.
  • \(\lap{4 f(t)^2} = 4 \lap{f(t)}^2\)
  • Correct! The linearity property does not apply to the power of functions.

4. \(\ds\lap{7\cos t + 2} = \) .

  • \(\ds\frac{7s}{s^2+1} + \frac{2}{s}\)
  • Correct! The Laplace transform of a constant is the constant times \(\lap{1}\text{.}\)
  • \(\ds\frac{7}{s^2+1} - \frac{2}{s}\)
  • No, the constant 2 should be added to the Laplace transform of 7 cos t.
  • \(\ds\frac{7}{s^2+49} + \frac{2}{s^2}\)
  • No, the constant 2 should be added to the Laplace transform of 7 cos t, not multiplied by \(\frac{1}{s^2}\text{.}\)
  • \(\ds\frac{7s}{s^2+1} - \frac{2}{s^2}\)
  • No, the constant 2 should be added to the Laplace transform of 7 cos t.