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Subsection 9.3.2 Multiplication by eat

The translation property, also known as the first shifting theorem, allows us to handle functions multiplied by an exponential term, eat. This property is particularly useful for simplifying the Laplace transforms of products of exponential functions and other functions, such as sine, cosine, or polynomials.

Example 9.

  L{e7tcos(3t)}.
Solution. Solution
By the definition of the Laplace transform, we have:
L{e7tcos(3t)}=0este7tcos(3t) dt=0est+7tcos(3t) dt=0e(s7)tcos(3t) dt=0e(s0)tcos(3t) dtL{cos(3t)},where s0=s7= s0s02+9(s0>0)= s7(s7)2+9(s7>0 or s>7)
Thus, the Laplace transform of e7tcos(3t) is:
L{e7tcos(3t)}=s7(s7)2+9,s>7.
The translation property can be generalized for any function f(t) multiplied by eat. The property is formally stated as:
L{eatf(t)}=F(sa),
where F(s) is the Laplace transform of f(t).

Laplace Transform Property P2.

Let F(s)=L{f(t)}.
P2
L{eatf(t)}=F(sa),a is a constant.
By applying this property to the functions tn, cos(bt), and sin(bt), we can derive additional common Laplace transforms:

Common Laplace Transforms L6L8.

L6
L{tneat}=n!(sa)n+1,s>a
L7
L{eatsin(bt)}=b(sa)2+b2,s>a
L8
L{eatcos(bt)}=sa(sa)2+b2,s>a

Reading Questions Check-Point Questions

1. L{e5tsin(2t)}= .

    L{e5tsin(2t)}=
  • 2(s5)2+4
  • Correct! The translation property shifts the transform of sin(2t) by 5 units, giving 2/(s5)2+4
  • 5(s2)2+4
  • No, the translation property involves shifting the transform of sin(2t) by 5, not by 2.
  • 2(s+5)2+4
  • No, the correct shift should be s5, not s+5.
  • 5(s2)2+2
  • No, the denominator should have 24b2=4, not 2.

2. L{e2tt3}= .

    L{e2tt3}=
  • 6/(s2)4
  • Correct! The translation property applied to t3 gives 6/(s2)4
  • 6/(s+2)4
  • No, the correct shift should be s2, not s+2.
  • 3/(s2)3
  • No, the denominator should have 34=6, not 3.
  • 3/(s+2)3
  • No, the correct shift should be s2 and the power should be 4.

3. L{e4tcos(5t)}= .

    L{e4tcos(5t)}=
  • 4/(s4)2+25
  • Correct! The Laplace transform of 4cos5e4tcos(5t) is 4/(s4)2+25
  • 4/(s+4)2+25
  • No, the correct shift should be s4, not s+4.
  • 5/(s5)2+16
  • No, the shift should be s4 and the denominator should have 25=52
  • 4/(s4)2+16
  • No, the correct denominator should be 4225/(s4)2+25, not 162

4. The translation property only works for exponential functions multiplied by sine and cosine functions.

    The translation property only works for exponential functions multiplied by sine and cosine functions
  • True.

  • False. The translation property applies to any function f(t) multiplied by an exponential term eat
  • False.

  • False. The translation property applies to any function f(t) multiplied by an exponential term eat

5. If L{f(t)}=1s(s+1), what is the Laplace transform of e2tf(t)?

    If L{f(t)}=1s(s+1), what is the Laplace transform of e2tf(t)?
  • 1(s+2)(s+1)
  • No, the correct shift should be s2, not s+2.
  • 1s(s+2)
  • No, the correct shift should be s2, not s.
  • 1(s2)(s+2)
  • No, the correct shift should be s2, not s+2.
  • 1(s2)(s+1)
  • Correct! The translation property shifts the transform of f(t) by 2 units, giving 1/(s2)(s+1)