Inverse Laplace transform for an irreducible quadratic?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on taking the inverse Laplace transform of the function (xoms + bxo)/(ms² + bs + k), which arises from the differential equation mx'' + bx' + kx = 0, representing a harmonic oscillator. The challenge is that this function cannot be simplified using partial fractions when the roots of the denominator are equal. The solution involves identifying the roots r₁ and r₂ of the characteristic equation ms² + bs + k = 0 and applying the appropriate inverse Laplace techniques based on whether the roots are distinct or repeated.

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Vitani11
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Homework Statement


I have to take the inverse Laplace of this function (xoms+bxo)/(ms2+bs+k) this can not be broken into partial fractions because it just gives me the same thing I started with. How is this done? This is coming from the laplace of the position function for a harmonic oscillator with initial conditions x(o) = xo and dx/dt(0) = 0 if that helps. The original function is mx''+bx'+kx = 0 where m is mass, b is coefficient of damping, k is spring constant. The end goal of this whole thing is to solve this ODE using laplace.

Homework Equations


mx''+bx'+kx = 0

The Attempt at a Solution


I have took the Laplace of the above equation and got down to the point where I now need to take the inverse Laplace of (xoms+bxo)/(ms2+bs+k)
 
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Vitani11 said:

Homework Statement


I have to take the inverse Laplace of this function (xoms+bxo)/(ms2+bs+k) this can not be broken into partial fractions because it just gives me the same thing I started with. How is this done? This is coming from the laplace of the position function for a harmonic oscillator with initial conditions x(o) = xo and dx/dt(0) = 0 if that helps. The original function is mx''+bx'+kx = 0 where m is mass, b is coefficient of damping, k is spring constant. The end goal of this whole thing is to solve this ODE using laplace.

Homework Equations


mx''+bx'+kx = 0

The Attempt at a Solution


I have took the Laplace of the above equation and got down to the point where I now need to take the inverse Laplace of (xoms+bxo)/(ms2+bs+k)

Let the two roots of ##m s^2 + bs + k=0## be ##r_1,r_2##. If ##r_1 \neq r_2## you can always write ##1/(m s^2 + bs + k)## as the partial fraction
$$\frac{1}{m} \left( \frac{A}{s-r_1} + \frac{B}{s - r_2} \right), $$
and easily enough find ##A,B##. If ##r_1 = r_2 = r## the partial fraction expansion of ##f(s) = (1/m) 1/(s-r)^2## is just ##f(s)## itself.

So, when ##r_1 \neq r_2,## you need to invert
$$\frac{A}{m} \frac{us+v}{s-r_1} + \frac{B}{m} \frac{us+v}{s-r_2},$$
which is easy enough. When ##r_1 = r_2 = r## you need to invert
$$\frac{1}{m} \frac{u s + v}{(s-r)^2},$$
which is pretty standard and can be found in tables, etc.
 
You should show your work to see if anyone can make some suggestions or spot any errors.

I would start by dividing numerator and denominator by m. It makes it cleaner to solve.
 

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