Differential Equations: Lecture 7.1 Definition of the Laplace Transform Part 2 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The Laplace transform of a piecewise function is obtained by applying the definition and evaluating the integral separately for each piece of the function.

Key Insights

• 🕰️ The Laplace transform of a piecewise function is obtained by applying the definition of the Laplace transform and integrating each piece separately.
• 🕰️ Piecewise functions may require different techniques or formulas to evaluate the Laplace transform for each piece.
• 🆘 Shortcut methods like shifting and using specific formulas can help simplify the calculation of Laplace transforms for certain functions.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How is the Laplace transform of a piecewise function obtained?

The Laplace transform of a piecewise function is obtained by applying the definition of the Laplace transform and evaluating the integral separately for each piece of the function.

Q: Why is it necessary to evaluate the Laplace transform of each piece separately?

Each piece of the function has a different form and may require a different approach to evaluate the Laplace transform. By evaluating each piece separately, we can accurately calculate the Laplace transform for the entire function.

Q: Are there any shortcuts or formulas available to simplify the calculation of Laplace transforms of piecewise functions?

Yes, there are some formulas available to simplify the calculation of Laplace transforms for specific functions. These formulas can be used for functions like cosine, exponential, and hyperbolic functions. However, for piecewise functions, the Laplace transform is typically obtained by applying the definition and evaluating the integral separately for each piece.

Q: How do you evaluate the Laplace transform for each piece of the function?

Each piece of the function is evaluated separately by applying the definition of the Laplace transform and integrating the function within the specified limits. This involves substituting the appropriate function into the Laplace integral and simplifying the integral.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• To find the Laplace transform of a piecewise function, the definition of the Laplace transform is used.

• The function is divided into separate pieces, and the Laplace transform is applied to each piece individually.

• The Laplace transform of each piece is evaluated using integration and substitution techniques.

• The final Laplace transform is obtained by combining the Laplace transforms of each piece.