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Inverse Laplace Transform Calculator

Opens the Laplace calculator in inverse mode, converting an expression in the frequency variable back to a time-domain function where the supported symbolic rules allow it.

F(s)unilateral, t ≥ 0

F(s) = 1/(s + 2)

direction inverse

variables s to t

assumes f(t) = 0 for t < 0

f(t)exact

f(t) = exp(-2*t)

region of convergence Re(s) > -2

from the standard pairs and rules
  • deg N < deg D
  • D(s) = product of linear and irreducible quadratic factors
  • N(s)/D(s) = sum of one fraction per factor power
f(t)
exp(-2*t)
Direction
Inverse
Domain
t ≥ 0
Region
Re(s) > -2

f(t) = exp(-2*t), Re(s) > -2, t ≥ 0

Your expression

Expression
Direction
Variables

Every step, and the rule it used

  1. Proper fractiondeg N < deg D

    The numerator is degree 0 against a denominator of degree 1, so it is already a proper fraction and splits straight away.

    1/(s + 2)
  2. Factor the denominatorD(s) = product of linear and irreducible quadratic factors

    Rational roots are found first, which leaves linear factors and irreducible quadratics. A factor with no rational root is named rather than guessed at.

    (s + 2)
  3. Partial fractionsN(s)/D(s) = sum of one fraction per factor power

    The coefficients come from solving the system exactly over the rationals, and the pieces are added back up and checked against the numerator you typed.

    1/(s + 2)
  4. Standard pairL{t^(k-1)*exp(a*t)/(k-1)!} = 1/(s - a)^k

    Exponential, read back from the table.

    exp(-2*t)
  5. Checked backL{f(t)} = F(s)

    Every term was transformed forward again and matched against the expression you typed before it was shown.

    1/(s + 2)

Type a function of t and the transform follows, or switch the direction and type an expression in s to go back the other way. Powers, exp, sin, cos, sinh, cosh, the unit step, the Dirac impulse and diff for a derivative are what the tables below list, and anything outside them is named rather than guessed at. Multiplication can be written out or left implicit, so 3t and 3*t both read as three times t, and e^(-2t) reads as exp(-2*t). The answer comes back in the notation this page reads, so it can go straight back into the box in the other direction. Your expression is kept in this browser so the page opens where you left it, and the Start over button at the top of the page forgets it.

These are unilateral transforms: the integral runs from 0 to infinity, so the answer assumes f(t) = 0 for t < 0 and says nothing about negative time.

Answers are printed in the notation this page reads, so an answer can go straight back into the box in the other direction whenever it is inside the size limits below: exp(-2*t), sin(3*t), heaviside(t - 2), delta(t).

Up to 500 characters and powers up to 12. Nothing is cut short: a longer expression is refused with a message rather than quietly trimmed.

  • L{t^2}forward
    2/s^3
  • L{sin 3t}forward
    3/(s^2 + 9)
  • Inverse of 1/(s + 2)back to the time domain
    exp(-2*t)

The pairs it knows

f(t)F(s)RegionRule
11/sRe(s) > 0Constant
t1/s^2Re(s) > 0Power
t^22/s^3Re(s) > 0Power
t^5120/s^6Re(s) > 0Power
exp(-2*t)1/(s + 2)Re(s) > -2Exponential
t*exp(-2*t)1/(s + 2)^2Re(s) > -2Power times exponential
sin(3*t)3/(s^2 + 9)Re(s) > 0Sine
cos(3*t)s/(s^2 + 9)Re(s) > 0Cosine
sinh(3*t)3/(s^2 - 9)Re(s) > 3Hyperbolic sine
cosh(3*t)s/(s^2 - 9)Re(s) > 3Hyperbolic cosine
exp(-t)*sin(3*t)3/((s + 1)^2 + 9)Re(s) > -1First shift
t*sin(3*t)6*s/(s^2 + 9)^2Re(s) > 0Multiply by t
t*cos(3*t)(s^2 - 9)/(s^2 + 9)^2Re(s) > 0Multiply by t
heaviside(t-2)exp(-2*s)/sRe(s) > 0Second shift
heaviside(t-2)*(t-2)^22*exp(-2*s)/s^3Re(s) > 0Second shift
delta(t)1all sDirac impulse
delta(t-2)exp(-2*s)all sDirac impulse
diff(sin(3*t))3*s/(s^2 + 9)Re(s) > 0Derivative

The rules it uses

RuleIdentityWhere it is used
LinearityL{a*f(t) + b*g(t)} = a*F(s) + b*G(s)Every sum is split here first, and the transforms are added back over one denominator.
Standard pairL{t^n} = n!/s^(n+1)The table row each term is looked up in, before any of the rules below move it.
First shiftL{exp(a*t)*f(t)} = F(s - a)An exponential factor shifts the whole transform along s, which is why exp(-2*t)*sin(3*t) lands on (s + 2)^2 + 9.
Second shiftL{u(t - c)*f(t - c)} = exp(-c*s)*F(s)A delay written in t - c comes out as an exponential factor and leaves the region of convergence alone.
Multiply by tL{t*f(t)} = -F'(s)One factor of t beside a sine or cosine differentiates the transform, which squares the denominator.
DerivativeL{f'(t)} = s*F(s) - f(0)diff(f) is transformed with this rule, and the value of f at 0 is printed beside it.
Proper fractiondeg N < deg DThe inverse starts here: a numerator that is not smaller is divided out first, and a constant quotient is an impulse.
Factor the denominatorD(s) = product of linear and irreducible quadratic factorsRational roots are found by search; a factor with none is named as unsupported rather than approximated.
Partial fractionsN(s)/D(s) = sum of one fraction per factor powerThe coefficients are solved exactly over the rationals and added back up against your numerator.
Checked backL{L^-1{F(s)}} = F(s)Every answer is run through the other direction and matched against what you typed before it is shown.

What you can type

FormWritten asWhat it carries
Powerst, t^2, t^12Whole number powers up to 12.
Exponentialexp(-2*t), e^(-2*t)Any rational rate, positive or negative.
Sine and cosinesin(3*t), cos(3*t)Any rational frequency. A phase inside the bracket is not read.
Hyperbolicsinh(3*t), cosh(3*t)Same shape as the trigonometric pair, with s^2 - w^2 underneath.
Unit stepheaviside(t - 2), u(t - 2)A delay, as long as everything beside it is written in t - 2.
Impulsedelta(t), delta(t - 2)The Dirac impulse, on its own or with a number in front.
Derivativediff(sin(3*t))d/dt, transformed with s*F(s) - f(0). It nests: diff(diff(f)).
Multiply by tt*sin(3*t)One factor of t beside a trigonometric or hyperbolic term.
Accuracy. Forward and inverse unilateral transforms for the elementary pairs this page lists, worked from the standard table with the linearity, shifting, multiply-by-t and derivative rules in exact rational arithmetic, and printed with the domain assumption t ≥ 0 and the region of convergence. Every answer is transformed back the other way and matched against what you typed before it is shown. An expression outside the supported forms is named as unsupported rather than answered, so a plausible-looking result is never printed in place of one the page can stand behind. The tables, the working and the four figures are one run of the same code, so nothing under the panel can disagree with the panel.

Common questions

What does an inverse Laplace transform do?
It maps a function of the transform variable back to its time-domain function, such as 1/s² to t. The page shows the parsed expression and the resulting form.
Are all expressions supported?
No. The calculator names unsupported syntax or an unevaluated result instead of presenting a guess as an answer.

Forward and inverse unilateral transforms for the elementary pairs this page lists, worked from the standard table with the linearity, shifting, multiply-by-t and derivative rules in exact rational arithmetic, and printed with the domain assumption t ≥ 0 and the region of convergence. Every answer is transformed back the other way and matched against what you typed before it is shown. An expression outside the supported forms is named as unsupported rather than answered, so a plausible-looking result is never printed in place of one the page can stand behind.