Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2021 / ib / Paper 4 / 12B / Solution

The Laplace transform of a function on $t\ge 0$ isfor values of $s$ for which the integral converges. Integration by parts gives the Laplace transform of a derivative

Write ${\hat{N}}_i(s)=\mathcal{L}\{N_i\}(s)$. Transforming the first two equations and using the initial data givesThe third equation then givesand henceA partial fraction decomposition therefore yields the sequential radioactive decay formula

Now let ${\lambda }_1={\lambda }_2=\lambda$ and put $\Delta ={\lambda }_3-\lambda >0$. The transformed contribution originating from the initial $N_1$ population becomesEquivalently, solve the middle equation first to obtainand use an integrating factor in the final equation:Evaluating the elementary integral gives