Let $r \geq 2$ be an integer and $a_1, \ldots, a_r \in \mathbf{Q}$ be distinct rationals. Let $b_1, \ldots, b_r \in \mathbf{Q}^{\times}$ be nonzero rationals. Set $e^{a_i x} \stackrel{\text{def}}{=} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{a_i^n}{n!} x^n$ and consider the power series $$f(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{u_n}{n!} x^n \stackrel{\text{def}}{=} b_1 e^{a_1 x} + \cdots + b_r e^{a_r x}.$$ Show that the Laplace transform $\widehat{f}(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} u_n x^n$ is the power series expansion of the rational function $$\sum_{i=1}^{r} \frac{b_i}{1 - a_i x}.$$ Deduce that $f$ is not the zero power series.
Let $r \geq 2$ be an integer and $a_1, \ldots, a_r \in \mathbf{Q}$ be distinct rationals. Let $b_1, \ldots, b_r \in \mathbf{Q}^{\times}$ be nonzero rationals. Set $e^{a_i x} \stackrel{\text{def}}{=} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{a_i^n}{n!} x^n$ and consider the power series
$$f(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{u_n}{n!} x^n \stackrel{\text{def}}{=} b_1 e^{a_1 x} + \cdots + b_r e^{a_r x}.$$
Show that the Laplace transform $\widehat{f}(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} u_n x^n$ is the power series expansion of the rational function
$$\sum_{i=1}^{r} \frac{b_i}{1 - a_i x}.$$
Deduce that $f$ is not the zero power series.