Using definition of Laplace transform in determining Laplace of a step function

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the application of the definition of the Laplace transform to determine the Laplace transform of a step function, specifically focusing on the integration process involved. Participants express uncertainty about using the definition rather than tables and seek assistance in computing the integral.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Homework-related, Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion about how to use the definition of the Laplace transform instead of relying on tables.
  • One participant suggests breaking the integral into two parts due to the piecewise nature of the function, indicating that the Laplace transform can be computed as an improper integral.
  • Another participant describes the process of integration by parts, providing a specific substitution and formula to apply, but notes that they encountered difficulties with repeating integrals and multiple variables.
  • There is a request for further assistance in proceeding with the integration after the initial separation of the integral.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the approach of breaking the integral into parts and using integration by parts, but there is no consensus on how to proceed effectively from that point, as some express ongoing confusion and difficulty.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention challenges with integration by parts and the handling of multiple variables, indicating potential limitations in their understanding or application of the method.

shorty1
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I have a question that has stumped me a bit, i am not sure how to use the definition to calculate it, i can use the tables, but i don't think that's what is needed.

Using the definition of the Laplace transform, View attachment 153 determine the Laplace transform of

View attachment 154

I can do it with the table but i am not sure how to to this using the definition.

Help please?

:confused:
 

Attachments

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shorty said:
I have a question that has stumped me a bit, i am not sure how to use the definition to calculate it, i can use the tables, but i don't think that's what is needed.

Using the definition of the Laplace transform, https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/153 determine the Laplace transform of

https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/154

I can do it with the table but i am not sure how to to this using the definition.

Help please?

:confused:

We can break up the integral into two parts since $f(t)$ is a piecewise function:

\[\mathcal{L}[f(t)] = \int_0^{\infty}e^{-st}f(t)\,dt=\int_0^2 e^{-st}0\,dt + \int_2^{\infty}e^{-st}t\,dt = \int_2^{\infty}te^{-st}\,dt.\]

This should now be a relatively simple improper integral to compute.

Can you take it from here?
 
Thank you, but I got that far into the separation, but I wasn't sure how to proceed from there, my integrals kept repeating when I tried it by parts, and I wasn't getting anything to substitute to use that wasn't still leaving me with multiple variables to integrate. ...
 
shorty said:
Thank you, but I got that far into the separation, but I wasn't sure how to proceed from there, my integrals kept repeating when I tried it by parts, and I wasn't getting anything to substitute to use that wasn't still leaving me with multiple variables to integrate. ...

In this case, you only need to apply integration by parts once. Let $u=t$, $dv=e^{-st}dt$; thus $du=dt$ and $v=-\dfrac{e^{-st}}{s}$. Plugging this into the integration by parts formula, we have

\[\int_2^{\infty}te^{-st}\,dt = \lim\limits_{b\to\infty}\left.\left[-\frac{te^{-st}}{s}\right]\right|_2^b + \frac{1}{s}\int_2^{\infty}e^{-st}\,dt=\ldots\]

Can you take it from here?
 

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