Question

Find the Laplace transform of each of the following functions. In each case
specify the values of s for which the transform exists.
(a) 6 sin 2t − 5 cos 2t
(b) (sin t − cos t)2
(c) (t2 + 1)2
(d) t3 e−2t
(e) e−4t cosh 2t

Answer
Z ∞
(a) L{6 sin 2t − 5 cos 2t} = e−st {6 sin 2t − 5 cos 2t} dt. Now
0
∞
∞ 1 −st Z ∞
2
Z · ¸
I= sin 2tdt = − e sin 2t + cos 2t dt
0 s 0 0 s
¸∞ Z ∞
2 −4
·
= 0 + − 2 e−st cos 2t + sin 2t dt
s 0 0 s2
2 4
= 2 − 2I
s s
s2 + 4 2 2
Hence I = , which gives I = .
s2 s2 s2 + 4
Z ∞
s
Similarly cos 2tdt = 2 , and hence L{6 sin 2t − 5 cos 2t} =
0 s +4
12 − 5s
for s > 0.
s2 + 4
(b)
L{(sin t − cos t)2 } = L{sin2 t − 2 sin t cos t + cos2 t}
= L{1 − sin 2t}
1 2
= − 2 s>0
s s +4

n!
(c) L{(t2 + 1)2 } = L{t4 + 2t2 + 1}. Now L{tn } = . So that
sn+1
24 4 1 24 + 4s2 + s4
L{(t2 + 1)2 } = + + = , for s > 0.
s5 s3 s s5

1
 6
(d) L{t3 e−2t } = F (s + 2) where F (s) = L{t3 } = .
s4
6
Hence L{t3 e−2t } = , for s > −4.
(s + 2)4
s
(e) L{e−4t cosh 2t} = F (s + 4) where F (s) = L{cosh 2t} = .
s2 − 4
s+4
Hence L{e−4t cosh 2t} = , for s > −4.
s2 + 8s + 12