《工程控制论》第二章--拉普拉斯变化方法章节导言中说:“For linear differential equations with constant coefficients and with time t as the independent variable, the method using Laplace transforms is particulary useful in finding the solution”,又说道“Of course the problem can be solved by a number of other methods; but the Laplace-transform method appeals especially to the engineering scientist in that it reduces all problems to a uniform basis”. 对于以时间t为自变数的常系数微分方程来说,拉普拉斯变换是用来求解方程十分有用的工具,它可以将所有的线性常系数系统问题归一到一致的代数基础上去。大大简化了求解的难度。
1812年(清嘉庆十七年),法国数学家拉普拉斯(1749-1827,享年78岁)在其著作《概率理论分析》一书中引入了拉普拉斯变换的概念(时年63岁),增大了概率论的作用。