Sketch both signals and note where each one is nonzero.
Flip h and slide it: for each output time, find the range where both signals overlap.
Multiply and add (discrete) or multiply and integrate (continuous) over that overlap only.
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
The pulse x(t) = 3 for 0 ≤ t < 1 s (zero elsewhere) is applied to a system with the impulse response h(t) = 1 for 0 ≤ t < 2 s (zero elsewhere). Find the output y(1) at t = 1 s.
x(t) = 3, 0 ≤ t < 1 sh(t) = 1, 0 ≤ t < 2 st = 1 s
y(1) =
2.Convolution & LTI systemsHard
A system obeys y[n] = 0.5·y[n − 1] + 3·x[n] and starts at rest. The input is the unit step x[n] = u[n]. Find y[2].
y[n] = 0.5y[n − 1] + 3x[n]x[n] = u[n]
y[2] =
3.Laplace transformsMedium
F(s) = (4s + 26)/(s² + 4s + 3). Its inverse transform has the form f(t) = A·e−t + B·e−3t. Find the coefficient A by partial fractions.
F(s) = (4s + 26)/(s² + 4s + 3)
A =
4.Laplace transformsHard
A system obeys y″ + 5y′ + 4y = 4·u(t), with y(0) = 2 and y′(0) = 0. At t = 0 a step input u(t) = 4 is applied. Use the Laplace transform to find y(0.8).
A system has the transfer function G(s) = 48.5/(s² + 16s + 97) and receives a unit step input. Find the peak time tp of the step response.
G(s) = 48.5/(s² + 16s + 97)
tp = s
6.Step responseHard
A series RLC circuit with R = 103 Ω, L = 500 mH and C = 47 µF is connected to a 24 V step at t = 0. The capacitor is uncharged and no current flows before the step. Find the percent overshoot %OS of the capacitor voltage.
R = 103 ΩL = 500 mHC = 47 µFV = 24 V
%OS = %
7.Bode plots & marginsMedium
In the series RLC band-pass filter shown the output is taken across R = 2 Ω, with L = 20 mH and C = 10 µF. Find the −3 dB bandwidth BW in Hz.
R = 2 ΩL = 20 mHC = 10 µF
BW = Hz
8.Bode plots & marginsHard
A unity-feedback loop has the open-loop transfer function L(s) = 4/(s(s + 2)(s + 4)). Find the gain margin GM in dB.
L(s) = 4/(s(s + 2)(s + 4))
GM = dB
3Solutions
1.Convolution & LTI systems
Answer: y(1) = 3
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).
Overlap of the flipped pulse
h(t − τ) is the pulse of h flipped and shifted so that it ends at τ = t.
τ ∈ [0, 1] → length 1 s
Integral
y(1) = 3·1·1 = 3
Answer
y(1) = 3
y(t) is a trapezoid: it rises from 0, stays at 3 and falls back to 0 at t = 3 s.
2.Convolution & LTI systems
Answer: y[2] = 5.25
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)|.
Iterate
y[0] = 3
y[1] = 4.5
y[2] = 5.25
Result
y[2] = 3·(1 − (0.5)3)/(1 − 0.5) = 5.25
Answer
y[2] = 5.25
3.Laplace transforms
Answer: A = 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).
Factor the denominator
s² + 4s + 3 = (s + 1)(s + 3)
F(s) = A/(s + 1) + B/(s + 3)
Cover-up rule
Multiply by (s + 1) and set s = −1: the B-term vanishes.
A = (4s + 26)/(s + 3) |s = −1 = 22/2 = 11
Answer
A = 11
(B = −7, so f(t) = 11·e−t − 7·e−3t)
4.Laplace transforms
Answer: y(0.8) = 2.829
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 + 5s + 4)·Y(s) = 2s + 10 + 16/s
Y(s) = (2s² + 10s + 16)/(s(s + 1)(s + 4))
Partial fractions
A = 16/(1·4) = 4
B = 8/((−1)·3) = −2.667
C = 8/((−4)·(−3)) = 0.6667
Result
y(t) = 4 − 2.667·e−t + 0.6667·e−4t
y(0.8) = 2.829
Answer
y(0.8) = 2.829
Check: y(0) = A + B + C = 2.
5.Step response
Answer: tp = 0.5469 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).
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).
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.
Resonant frequency
ω₀ = 1/√(LC) = 1/√(0.02·1 × 10⁻⁵) = 2236 rad/s
f₀ = ω₀/(2π) = 355.9 Hz
Bandwidth
BW = R/L = 2/0.02 = 100 rad/s = 15.92 Hz
Answer
BW = 15.92 Hz
8.Bode plots & margins
Answer: GM = 21.58 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.