A method of obtaining a solution to a differential equation where the unknown integration constants are obtained using straightforward algebra. It is commonly (p. 215) used in process control applications since differential equations do not readily enable the relationship between the input and output to be discerned. The Laplace transformation therefore allows a simpler algebraic calculation to be performed. The Laplace transform of a function f(t) is therefore multiplied by e−st and the product integrated between zero and infinity. It is denoted by as:
where s is a variable whose values are chosen such that the semi-infinite integral converges (i.e. the integration is between 0 and +∞ and is therefore one-sided). For the Laplace transform to exist, the integrand must converge to zero as t approaches infinity.
As an example, the Laplace transform of a unit step function is:
If F(s) is the Laplace transform of f(t) then f(t) is the inverse Laplace transform of F(s). Thus:
There is no simple definition of the inverse transform and the solution is found in reverse. Tables of Laplace transforms and their inverse transforms are used.