Initial Value Theorem of Laplace Transform

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Theorem

Let $\laptrans {\map f t} = \map F s$ denote the Laplace transform of the real function $f$.

Then:

$\ds \lim_{t \mathop \to 0} \map f t = \lim_{s \mathop \to \infty} s \, \map F s$

if those limits exist.


General Result

Let $\ds \lim_{t \mathop \to 0} \dfrac {\map f t} {\map g t} = 1$.


Then:

$\ds \lim_{s \mathop \to \infty} \dfrac {\map F s} {\map G s} = 1$

if those limits exist.


Proof

We have that $\map {f'} t$ is piecewise continuous with one-sided limits and of exponential order.


Hence:

$\ds \lim_{s \mathop \to \infty} \int_0^\infty e^{-s t} \map {f'} t \rd t = 0$


Suppose that $f$ is continuous at $t = 0$.

From Laplace Transform of Derivative:

$(1): \quad \laptrans {\map {f'} t} = s \map F s - \map f 0$


Taking the limit as $s \to \infty$ in $(1)$, where it is assumed that $\map f t$ is continuous at $t = 0$:

$0 = \ds \lim_{s \mathop \to \infty} s \map F s - \map f 0$

or:

$\ds \lim_{s \mathop \to \infty} s \map F s = \map f 0 = \lim_{t \mathop \to 0} \map f t$

$\Box$


Suppose that $f$ is not continuous at $t = 0$.

From Laplace Transform of Derivative with Discontinuity at Zero:

$\laptrans {\map {f'} t} = s \map F s - \map f {0^+}$

which means:

$(2): \quad \laptrans {\map {f'} t} = s \map F s - \ds \lim_{u \mathop \to 0} \map f u$


Similarly taking the limit as $s \to \infty$ in $(2)$, where it is assumed that $\map f t$ is continuous at $t = 0$:

$0 = \ds \lim_{s \mathop \to \infty} s \map F s - \lim_{u \mathop \to 0} \map f u$

and so:

$\ds \lim_{s \mathop \to \infty} s \map F s = \lim_{u \mathop \to 0} \map f u = \lim_{t \mathop \to 0} \map f t$

$\blacksquare$


Examples

Example 1

Consider the real function $f: \R \to \R$ defined as:

$\map f t = 3 e^{-2 t}$

From Laplace Transform of Exponential:

$\laptrans {\map f t} = \dfrac 3 {s + 2}$


Then by the Initial Value Theorem of Laplace Transform:

\(\ds \lim_{t \mathop \to 0} 3 e^{-2 t}\) \(=\) \(\ds \lim_{s \mathop \to \infty} \dfrac 3 {s + 2}\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds 3\) \(=\) \(\ds 3\)


Sources

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