Math 371: Winter 2012

Heaviside Function (a dierent perspective)

0, 0 t < a 1, at

U (t a) =

Multiplying any function g (t) times U (t a) means that g (t) is turned o before t = a and turned on starting at t = a. We can think of any piecewise function as a bunch component functions that are being turned on and turned o at dierent points. Example: 0t<2 t3 , 5, 2 t < 20 in terms of the Heaviside function. Write f (t) = et , 20 t The function f (t) in English All functions start o. At t = 0 we turn on t3 At t = 2 we turn o t3 and turn on 5 At t = 20 we turn o 5 and turn on et (We never turn o et )

The Function f (t) in Heaviside Notation All functions start o. At t = 0 we turn on t3 At t = 2 we turn o t3 and turn on 5 At t = 20 we turn o 5 and turn on et (We never turn o et )
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t3 U (t 0) t3 U (t 2) + 5U (t 2) 5U (t 20) + et U (t 20)
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f (t) = t3 (1) t3 U (t 2) + 5U (t 2) 5U (t 20) + et U (t 20)

U (t0)

A Few Notes All functions start o. If you want to turn them on, you have to make the eort to turn them on. You can only turn o a function that you previously turned on Notice that U (t 0) is the same as the function 1 (since we are always considering t 0).

 Example: Write g (t) = 0, 0t<1 in terms of the Heaviside function. cos(4t), 1t

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All functions start o. At t = 1 we turn on cos(4t) (We never turn o cos(4t)) g (t) = cos(4t)U (t 1)

cos(4t)U (t 1)
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Example: Write h(t) = sin(t), 0 t < 6 in terms of the Heaviside function. 0, 6t

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All functions start o. At t = 0 we turn on sin(t) At t = 6 we turn o sin(t) Do nothing else

sin(t)U (t 0) sin(t)U (t 6)
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h(t) = sin(t)U (t 0) sin(t)U (t 6) (then we x notation) h(t) = sin(t)(1) sin(t)U (t 6)

Example: t2 , 0 t < 5 0, 5 t < 10 in terms of the Heaviside function. Write (t) = 6t, 10 t All functions start o. At t = 0 we turn on t2 t2 U (t 0) t2 U (t 5) 6tU (t 10)

At t = 5 we turn o t2 At t = 10 we turn on 6t (We never turn o 6t) (t) = t2 (1) t2 U (t 5) + 6tU (t 10)

 Example: 5t 11, 0 t < 6 sin(3t), 6 t < 7 in terms of the Heaviside function. Write (t) = 4, 7 t < 12 t, 12 t All functions start o. At t = 0 we turn on 5t 11 At t = 6 we turn o 5t 11 and turn on sin(3t) (5t 11)U (t 1) (5t 11)U (t 6) + sin(3t)U (t 6) At t = 7 we turn o sin(3t) and turn on 4 sin(3t)U (t 7) + 4U (t 7) 4U (t 12) + tU (t 12)

At t = 12 we turn o 4 and turn on t (We never turn o t)

(t) = (5t 11)(1) (5t 11)U (t 6) + sin(3t)U (t 6) sin(3t)U (t 7) + 4U (t 7) 4U (t 12) + tU (t 12)