Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2021 ib Paper 4 12B Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
The Laplace transform of a function on isfor values of for which the integral converges. Integration by parts gives the Laplace transform of a derivative
Write . 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 and put . The transformed contribution originating from the initial population becomesEquivalently, solve the middle equation first to obtainand use an integrating factor in the final equation:Evaluating the elementary integral gives