48
Mathematics
the general solution is
y
=
u
+
c,u,
+
C,U,
+ . .
.
+
C"U",
where u is any solution of the given equation and ul, uq,
. .
.,
un form a
fundamental system
of solutions to the homogeneous equation [E(x)
t
zero].
A
set of functions has linear independence if its Wronskian determinant, W(x),
#
0,
where
UI
up
...
u,
u, up
...
U"
. . ... .
W(x)
=
u;" u;
...
u:
and m
=
n
-
lLh
derivative. (In certain cases, a set of functions may be linearly
independent when W(x)
=
0.)
The Laplace Transformation
The
Laplace transformation
is based upon the Laplace integral which transforms
a differential equation expressed in terms of time to an equation expressed in
terms of
a
complex variable
B
+
jw.
The new equation may be manipulated
algebraically to solve for the desired quantity as an explicit function of the
complex variable.
Essentially three reasons exist for the use of the Laplace transformation:
1.
The ability to use algebraic manipulation to solve high-order differential
2.
Easy handling of boundary conditions
3.
The method is suited to the complex-variable theory associated with the
equations
Nyquist stability criterion
[
11.
In Laplace-transformation mathematics, the following symbols and variables
are used:
f(t)
=
a function of time
F(s)
=
the Laplace transform of
f,
expressed in
s,
resulting from operating on
s
=
a complex variable of the form
(O
+
jw)
f(t)
with the Laplace integral.
6:
=
the Laplace operational symbol, i.e.,
F(s)
=
S[f(t)].
The Laplace integral is defined as
6:
=
jo-e-"dt and
so
6:[f(t)]
=
re-'"f(t)dt
Table
1-8
lists the transforms of some common time-variable expressions.