Using Laplace Transforms to Solve ODE with Piecewise Forcing Function

nobodyuknow
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Homework Statement



ODE: y'' + 4y' + 3y = f(t)
f(t) = (?? HELP - What's the mathematical term to describe these? I can't seem t o find it in my notes :cry: )
1, 0 ≤ t < 2
t², 2 ≤ t < 3
0, t ≥ 3

Write a brief description on how you would solve this ODE using Laplace transforms.

Also use the integral definition of Laplace Transforms to calculate the Laplace Transform of f(t).

Homework Equations



We know the Laplace Transform Definition is:
F(s) = ∫^{∞}_{0}f(t)e-st

The Attempt at a Solution



After integrating the f(t)'s I get...

0 + 1/s - ((e^-2s)/s) + (((4e^-2s) - (9e^-3s))/s) + (((4e^-2s) - (6e^-3s))/s^2) + (((2e^-2s) - (2e^-3s))/s^3)

This looks completely wrong, but, I really have little idea on how to do this. I don't have tutorials for at least a couple of days so I cannot ask my tutorer about it quite yet.

All help appreciated, thanks!
 
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##y''+4y'+3y=f(t),##

##f(t)=\begin{cases}1&0\le t<2\\ t^2&2\le t<3\\ 0&t\ge3\end{cases}##
 
Thanks for that.
 
The forcing function f(t) is composed of several piecewise functions.
 
I would say rather that f(t) is one piecewise defined function, that function having several pieces!
 
Could you possibly do this...
y'' + 4y' + 3y = f(t)
y'' + 3y' + y' + 3y = f(t)
d/dx [y' + 3y] + [y' + 3y] = f(t)
let u = y' + 3y
u' + u = f(t)

Would that be correct?
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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