Signals and Systems: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 8 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Convolution & LTI systems

Discrete convolution
y[n] = Σ x[k]·h[n − k]
Continuous convolution
y(t) = ∫ x(τ)·h(t − τ) dτ
Length and sum
Ly = Lx + Lh − 1, Σy = Σx·Σh
Start, end and area
t1 + t3 … t2 + t4, ∫y = ∫x·∫h
Step into e^(−at)u(t)
y(t) = (A/a)(1 − e−at)
First-order system
y′ + a·y = b·x → h(t) = b·e−atu(t)
First-order recursion
y[n] = a·y[n − 1] + b·x[n] → h[n] = b·aⁿ
Sinusoid through h(t)
|H(jω)|, ∠H(jω); H(jω) = b/(a + jω)
Fourier series amplitudes
square ±A: 4A/(kπ), odd k; triangle ±A: 8A/(π²k²), odd k; pulse train: A·D and (2A/(kπ))|sin kπD|

Method

  1. Sketch both signals and note where each one is nonzero.
  2. Flip h and slide it: for each output time, find the range where both signals overlap.
  3. Multiply and add (discrete) or multiply and integrate (continuous) over that overlap only.
  4. Check the result: the output starts at the sum of the start times, ends at the sum of the end times, and its area or sum is the product of the input areas or sums.

2Practice problems

1.Convolution & LTI systemsMedium
x(t)t35h(t)t44

The pulse x(t) = 5 for 0 ≤ t < 3 s is convolved with h(t), a triangle that falls linearly from 4 at t = 0 to 0 at t = 4 s. Find the area Ay under y(t) = x(t) ∗ h(t).

x(t) = 5, 0 ≤ t < 3 sh(0) = 4, h(4) = 0
Ay =
2.Convolution & LTI systemsHard
5cos(5t)h(t) = 5e−5t​u(t)y(t)

The input x(t) = 5·cos(5t) is applied to a system with h(t) = 5·e−5tu(t). Find the amplitude Ym of the steady-state output.

h(t) = 5e−5tu(t)x(t) = 5cos(5t)
Ym =
3.Laplace transformsMedium
ReIm−2−4−62

Find f(t) for F(s) = (3s + 19)/(s² + 6s + 18) by completing the square, and evaluate f(0.25).

F(s) = (3s + 19)/(s² + 6s + 18)t = 0.25 s
f(0.25) =
4.Laplace transformsHard
t (s)y(t)t = 0.25y(0.25) = ?

A system obeys y″ + 10y′ + 24y = 24·u(t), with y(0) = 2 and y′(0) = 0. At t = 0 a step input u(t) = 1 is applied. Use the Laplace transform to find y(0.25).

y″ + 10y′ + 24y = 24·u(t)y(0) = 2y′(0) = 0u(t) = 1t = 0.25 s
y(0.25) =
5.Step responseMedium
t (s)y(t)3

A system has the transfer function G(s) = 51/(s² + 3s + 17) and receives a unit step input. Find the damping ratio ζ.

G(s) = 51/(s² + 3s + 17)
ζ =
6.Step responseHard
R(s)+225s(s + 6)G(s)C(s)−

A unity negative feedback loop has G(s) = 225/(s(s + 6)). Find the 2 % settling time ts of the closed-loop step response, using ts ≈ 4/(ζωₙ).

G(s) = 225/(s(s + 6))
ts = s
7.Bode plots & marginsMedium
vin​R = 22 ΩL = 22 mHvout​

The RL high-pass filter shown has R = 22 Ω, L = 22 mH. A sinusoidal input of 40 Hz is applied. Find the phase shift φ of vout relative to vin, in degrees.

R = 22 ΩL = 22 mHf = 40 Hz
φ = °
8.Bode plots & marginsHard
|H| (dB)0.10.1111010100100−80−60−40−2002040ω (rad/s)φ (°)ω (rad/s)−270−180−900ω180​

A unity-feedback loop has the open-loop transfer function L(s) = 50/(s(s + 2)(s + 7)). Find the gain margin GM in dB.

L(s) = 50/(s(s + 2)(s + 7))
GM = dB

3Solutions

1.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: Ay = 120

Continuous convolution: y(t) = ∫ x(τ)·h(t − τ) dτ. Flip h, slide it to position t and integrate the product of the overlapping parts. For causal signals the integral runs from 0 to t. Useful results: the area of y is the area of x times the area of h; if x lasts from t₁ to t₂ and h from t₃ to t₄, y lasts from t₁ + t₃ to t₂ + t₄. For h(t) = e−atu(t) and a step of height A, y(t) = (A/a)(1 − e−at).

Areas of the inputs

∫x dt = 5·3 = 15
∫h dt = ½·4·4 = 8

Area of the output

Ay = 15·8 = 120

Answer

Ay = 120
2.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: Ym = 3.536

Impulse response and Fourier series: the impulse response h(t) describes an LTI system completely: for y′ + a·y = b·x it is h(t) = b·e−atu(t), and for y[n] = a·y[n − 1] + b·x[n] it is h[n] = b·aⁿu[n]. A sinusoid cos ωt passes through with gain |H(jω)| and phase ∠H(jω), where H is the Fourier transform of h. A periodic signal is a sum of harmonics at k/T: a square wave of ±A has only odd harmonics with amplitudes 4A/(kπ), a triangle wave of peak A has 8A/(π²k²), and a pulse train of height A and duty cycle D has the mean A·D and the harmonics (2A/(kπ))·|sin(kπD)|.

Frequency response

H(jω) = 5/(5 + jω)

Gain at the input frequency

|H(j5)| = 5/√(5² + 5²) = 0.7071
Ym = 5·0.7071 = 3.536

Answer

Ym = 3.536
3.Laplace transforms

Answer: f(0.25) = 2.11

Laplace transform: F(s) = ∫₀∞ f(t)·e−st dt turns derivatives into multiplications by s: ℒ{f′} = sF(s) − f(0), ℒ{f″} = s²F(s) − s·f(0) − f′(0). Standard pairs: 1 ↔ 1/s, e−at ↔ 1/(s + a), t·e−at ↔ 1/(s + a)², sin ωt ↔ ω/(s² + ω²), cos ωt ↔ s/(s² + ω²), and a shift s → s + σ multiplies the time function by e−σt. To invert a rational F(s), split it into partial fractions: the residue of a simple pole p is A = [(s − p)·F(s)] at s = p. Final value theorem: f(∞) = lims→0 s·F(s), valid only when all poles of s·F(s) lie in the left half-plane. Initial value theorem: f(0⁺) = lims→∞ s·F(s).

Complete the square

s² + 6s + 18 = (s + 3)² + 9 = (s + 3)² + 3²

Match the numerator

F(s) = 3·(s + 3)/((s + 3)² + 3²) + (10/3)·3/((s + 3)² + 3²)

Inverse transform

f(t) = e−3t·(3·cos 3t + 3.333·sin 3t)
f(0.25) = e−3·0.25·(3·cos(3·0.25) + 3.333·sin(3·0.25)) = 2.11

Answer

f(0.25) = 2.11
4.Laplace transforms

Answer: y(0.25) = 1.657

Laplace transform: F(s) = ∫₀∞ f(t)·e−st dt turns derivatives into multiplications by s: ℒ{f′} = sF(s) − f(0), ℒ{f″} = s²F(s) − s·f(0) − f′(0). Standard pairs: 1 ↔ 1/s, e−at ↔ 1/(s + a), t·e−at ↔ 1/(s + a)², sin ωt ↔ ω/(s² + ω²), cos ωt ↔ s/(s² + ω²), and a shift s → s + σ multiplies the time function by e−σt. To invert a rational F(s), split it into partial fractions: the residue of a simple pole p is A = [(s − p)·F(s)] at s = p. Final value theorem: f(∞) = lims→0 s·F(s), valid only when all poles of s·F(s) lie in the left half-plane. Initial value theorem: f(0⁺) = lims→∞ s·F(s).

Transform the equation

(s² + 10s + 24)·Y(s) = 2s + 20 + 24/s
Y(s) = (2s² + 20s + 24)/(s(s + 4)(s + 6))

Partial fractions

A = 24/(4·6) = 1
B = −24/((−4)·2) = 3
C = −24/((−6)·(−2)) = −2

Result

y(t) = 1 + 3·e−4t − 2·e−6t
y(0.25) = 1.657

Answer

y(0.25) = 1.657

Check: y(0) = A + B + C = 2.

5.Step response

Answer: ζ = 0.3638

Step response: a first-order system G(s) = K/(τs + 1) answers a step of size U with y(t) = K·U·(1 − e−t/τ): it reaches 63.2 % of the final value K·U after one time constant τ and 98 % after 4τ. A second-order system G(s) = K·ωₙ²/(s² + 2ζωₙs + ωₙ²) has the poles s = −ζωₙ ± jωd with ωd = ωₙ√(1 − ζ²). For 0 < ζ < 1 the step response overshoots: percent overshoot %OS = 100·e−ζπ/√(1−ζ²), peak time tp = π/ωd, and the 2 % settling time ts ≈ 4/(ζωₙ). Compare the denominator with s² + 2ζωₙs + ωₙ² to read off ωₙ and ζ. For a mass–spring–damper ωₙ = √(k/m) and ζ = c/(2√(km)); for a series RLC circuit ωₙ = 1/√(LC) and ζ = (R/2)·√(C/L).

Compare with the standard form

The denominator must match s² + 2ζωₙs + ωₙ².

ωₙ² = 17 → ωₙ = 4.123 rad/s
2ζωₙ = 3 → ζ = 3/(2·4.123) = 0.3638

Result

ζ = 0.3638

Answer

ζ = 0.3638
6.Step response

Answer: ts = 1.333 s

Step response: a first-order system G(s) = K/(τs + 1) answers a step of size U with y(t) = K·U·(1 − e−t/τ): it reaches 63.2 % of the final value K·U after one time constant τ and 98 % after 4τ. A second-order system G(s) = K·ωₙ²/(s² + 2ζωₙs + ωₙ²) has the poles s = −ζωₙ ± jωd with ωd = ωₙ√(1 − ζ²). For 0 < ζ < 1 the step response overshoots: percent overshoot %OS = 100·e−ζπ/√(1−ζ²), peak time tp = π/ωd, and the 2 % settling time ts ≈ 4/(ζωₙ). Compare the denominator with s² + 2ζωₙs + ωₙ² to read off ωₙ and ζ. For a mass–spring–damper ωₙ = √(k/m) and ζ = c/(2√(km)); for a series RLC circuit ωₙ = 1/√(LC) and ζ = (R/2)·√(C/L).

Closed-loop transfer function

T(s) = 225/(s² + 6s + 225): ωₙ = 15 rad/s, ζ = 0.2

Settling time

ζωₙ = 6/2 = 3
ts ≈ 4/(ζωₙ) = 1.333 s

Answer

ts = 1.333 s

For this loop ζωₙ = a/2 whatever K is: raising K adds overshoot but does not shorten the settling time.

7.Bode plots & margins

Answer: φ = 75.89 °

Frequency response: substitute s = jω in the transfer function. The magnitude in decibels is 20·log₁₀|H(jω)| and the phase is the sum of the angles of the numerator factors minus those of the denominator factors. A first-order RC or RL filter has its corner (−3 dB) frequency at ωc = 1/(RC) or R/L, and fc = ωc/(2π); a low-pass filter gives |H| = 1/√(1 + (ω/ωc)²) and φ = −atan(ω/ωc). In the asymptotic (straight-line) Bode plot each pole bends the magnitude down by 20 dB/decade at its corner frequency, each zero bends it up by 20 dB/decade, and an integrator 1/s gives −20 dB/decade at all frequencies. Gain crossover ωc: |L(jω)| = 1 (0 dB); phase margin PM = 180° + ∠L(jωc). Phase crossover ω180: ∠L(jω) = −180°; gain margin GM = −20·log₁₀|L(jω180)| dB. The closed loop is stable when both margins are positive.

Corner frequency

ωc = R/L = 22/0.022 = 1000 rad/s
fc = 159.2 Hz → f/fc = 40/159.2 = 0.2513

Phase

φ = 90° − atan(0.2513) = 75.89°

Answer

φ = 75.89°
8.Bode plots & margins

Answer: GM = 8.028 dB

Frequency response: substitute s = jω in the transfer function. The magnitude in decibels is 20·log₁₀|H(jω)| and the phase is the sum of the angles of the numerator factors minus those of the denominator factors. A first-order RC or RL filter has its corner (−3 dB) frequency at ωc = 1/(RC) or R/L, and fc = ωc/(2π); a low-pass filter gives |H| = 1/√(1 + (ω/ωc)²) and φ = −atan(ω/ωc). In the asymptotic (straight-line) Bode plot each pole bends the magnitude down by 20 dB/decade at its corner frequency, each zero bends it up by 20 dB/decade, and an integrator 1/s gives −20 dB/decade at all frequencies. Gain crossover ωc: |L(jω)| = 1 (0 dB); phase margin PM = 180° + ∠L(jωc). Phase crossover ω180: ∠L(jω) = −180°; gain margin GM = −20·log₁₀|L(jω180)| dB. The closed loop is stable when both margins are positive.

Phase crossover

(ω/2)·(ω/7) = 1 → ω180 = √(2·7) = 3.742 rad/s

Magnitude at phase crossover

|L(jω180)| = K/(ω·√(ω² + 4)·√(ω² + 49)) = K/(2·7·(2 + 7)) = K/126

Gain margin

GM = 20·log₁₀(126/50) = 8.028 dB

Answer

GM = 8.028 dB

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