# Laplace transform of sin(2t)cos(2t)

1. Mar 18, 2009

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Find the Laplace transform of

f(t) = sin(2t)cos(2t)

using a trig identity.

2. Relevant equations

N/A.

3. The attempt at a solution

I know the double-angle formula sin(2t) = 2sin(t)cos(t) but that's not helping much. Can you give me some advice on how to proceed.

2. Mar 18, 2009

### jeffreydk

Consider that

$$\sin{(4t)}=2\sin{(2t)}\cos{(2t)}$$

3. Mar 19, 2009

Okay, then $$\sin{(2t)}\cos{(2t)} = 1/2\sin{(t)}\cos{(t)}$$

The Laplace integral is then:

$$1/2\int{e^{-st}\sin{(t)}\cos{(t)}}dt$$

So where do I go from here to solve this? The $$e^{-st}$$ is throwing me off, otherwise I'd just do a u substitution with $$u = \sin{(t)}$$ and $$du = \cos{(t)}dt$$.

4. Mar 19, 2009

### jeffreydk

Well if you have that

$$\sin{(4t)}=2\sin{(2t)}\cos{(2t)}$$

then

$$\sin{(2t)}\cos{(2t)}=\frac{1}{2}\sin{(4t)}$$

So then if you want to do it from the integral you just need to integrate

$$\int_0^{\infty}\frac{1}{2}\sin{(4t)}e^{-st}dt$$

where the $s$ you treat as a constant (you're integrating with respect to $t$). But you could just use the known laplace transform for $\sin{(at)}$ unless you are meaning to derive it.

5. Mar 19, 2009