Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-year-2-of-the-natural-sciences-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2004/paper-2/5/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2004 Paper 2 5 Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-10-20
For causal functions the convolution is . In a half-plane of absolute convergence, changing variables in its Laplace transform and using Fubini's theorem givesThis proves the convolution theorem for Laplace transforms. Transforming the differential equation gives . The direct transform pairs and then giveFor a continuous forcing, call the last term . The Leibniz integral rule gives and . Also . Thus both the original equation and the initial values hold.
For an impulse at positive time , the Dirac delta evaluates the convolution, yieldingHere is the Heaviside step function. The displacement remains continuous at , while its derivative jumps upward by one, exactly as required by integrating the differential equation across the unit impulse.
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