# Laplace Transform Exists if Function Piecewise Continuous and of Exponential Order

## Theorem

Let $f$ be a real function which is:

piecewise continuous in every closed interval $\closedint 0 N$
of exponential order $\gamma$ for $t > N$

Then the Laplace transform $\map F s$ of $\map f t$ exists for all $s > \gamma$.

## Proof

For all $N \in \Z_{>0}$:

$\ds \int_0^\infty e^{-s t} \map f t \rd t = \int_0^N e^{-s t} \map f t \rd t + \int_N^\infty e^{-s t} \map f t \rd t$

We have that $f$ is piecewise continuous in every closed interval $\closedint 0 N$.

Hence the first of the integrals on the right hand side exists.

Also, as $\map f t$ is of exponential order $\gamma$ for $t > N$, so does the second integral on the right hand side.

Indeed:

 $\ds \size {\int_N^\infty e^{-s t} \map f t \rd t}$ $\le$ $\ds \int_N^\infty \size {e^{-s t} \map f t} \rd t$ $\ds$ $\le$ $\ds \int_0^\infty e^{-s t} \size {\map f t} \rd t$ $\ds$ $\le$ $\ds \int_0^\infty e^{-s t} M e^{\gamma t} \rd t$ $\ds$ $=$ $\ds \dfrac M {s - \gamma}$ Laplace Transform of Exponential

Thus the Laplace transform exists for $s > \gamma$.

$\blacksquare$