The Laplace Trans/ arm Met hod 261
x c
a. b.
x
Figure 5.6 The Function f(x) and Associated c-time Delay Function g(x)
The following theorem provides us with the relationship between the Laplace
transform of a function f(x) and the Laplace transform of the c-time delay
function of f(x), u(x - c)f(x - c).
THEOREM 5.3 SECOND TRANSLATION PROPERTY
If £[/(x) ] exists for s >a:?'. 0 and if c > 0, then
.C[u(x - c)J(x - c)] = e-cs .C[f(x )] for s > a.
Proof: By definition,
.C[u(x - c)J(x - c)] = 1= u(x - c)f(x - c)e-sx dx = 1= f(x - c)e-sx dx.
Making the change of variable ~ = x - c, we find
.C[u(x - c)f(x - c)] = 1= /(Oe-s(~+c) d~
= e-cs 1= f(~)e-s~ d~ = e-cs .C[f(x )] for s > a.
EXAMPLE 1 Using the Second Translation Property
to Calculate a Laplace Transform
Calculate the Laplace transform of
{
cosx,
f(x) =
0,