Abstract
The problem considered in this paper is that of determining the response of an initially excited linear varying-parameter system to a given input. Mathematically, this problem reduces to solving a linear differential equation (with time-dependent coefficients) subject to prescribed initial conditions. It is shown that these conditions may be satisfied by superposing upon the given input a linear combination of delta-functions and treating the system as if it were initially at rest. Based on this fact and employing the concept of a system function, a general and yet simple expression for the response is developed. The result is similar in form to that obtained by the use of conventional laplace transformation techniques in the case of a linear differential equation with constant coefficients.

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