6: The Laplace Transform
- Page ID
- 32219
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The Laplace transform can also be used to solve differential equations and reduces a linear differential equation to an algebraic equation, which can then be solved by the formal rules of algebra.
- 6.1: The Laplace Transform
- The Laplace transform turns out to be a very efficient method to solve certain ODE problems. In particular, the transform can take a differential equation and turn it into an algebraic equation. If the algebraic equation can be solved, applying the inverse transform gives us our desired solution.
- 6.2: Transforms of derivatives and ODEs
- The procedure for linear constant coefficient equations is as follows. We take an ordinary differential equation in the time variable t . We apply the Laplace transform to transform the equation into an algebraic (non differential) equation in the frequency domain. We solve the equation for X(s) . Then taking the inverse transform, if possible, we find x(t). Unfortunately, not every function has a Laplace transform, not every equation can be solved in this manner.
- 6.3: Convolution
- The Laplace transformation of a product is not the product of the transforms. Instead, we introduce the convolution of two functions of t to generate another function of t.
- 6.4: Dirac delta and impulse response
- Often in applications we study a physical system by putting in a short pulse and then seeing what the system does. The resulting behavior is often called impulse response.
- 6.E: The Laplace Transform (Exercises)
- These are homework exercises to accompany Libl's "Differential Equations for Engineering" Textmap. This is a textbook targeted for a one semester first course on differential equations, aimed at engineering students. Prerequisite for the course is the basic calculus sequence.
Contributors
- Jiří Lebl (Oklahoma State University).These pages were supported by NSF grants DMS-0900885 and DMS-1362337.