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
A system has the impulse response h(t) = e−1tu(t). The input is a step x(t) = 4·u(t). Find the output y(2) at t = 2 s.
h(t) = e−1tu(t)x(t) = 4·u(t)t = 2 s
y(2) =
2.Convolution & LTI systemsHard
A system obeys y′(t) + 10·y(t) = 10·x(t). Find its impulse response at t = 0.2 s, h(0.2).
y′ + 10y = 10xt = 0.2 s
h(0.2) =
3.Laplace transformsMedium
Find f(t) for F(s) = 50/(s(s + 2)(s + 6)) by partial fractions, and evaluate f(0.3).
F(s) = 50/(s(s + 2)(s + 6))t = 0.3 s
f(0.3) =
4.Laplace transformsHard
Solve y″ + 9y′ + 20y = 0 with y(0) = 7 and y′(0) = −15 using the Laplace transform, and find y(0.25).
y″ + 9y′ + 20y = 0y(0) = 7y′(0) = −15t = 0.25 s
y(0.25) =
5.Step responseMedium
A system has the transfer function G(s) = 252/(s² + 9s + 84) and receives a unit step input. Find the 2 % settling time ts of the step response, using ts ≈ 4/(ζωₙ).
G(s) = 252/(s² + 9s + 84)
ts = s
6.Step responseHard
A mass m = 5 kg hangs on a spring k = 5000 N/m with a viscous damper c = 63 N·s/m (m·x″ + c·x′ + k·x = F). At rest in equilibrium, a constant force F = 25 N is suddenly applied. Find the percent overshoot %OS of the displacement.
m = 5 kgk = 5000 N/mc = 63 N·s/mF = 25 N
%OS = %
7.Bode plots & marginsMedium
The RC low-pass filter shown has R = 3.3 kΩ, C = 4.7 nF. A sinusoidal input of 21 kHz is applied. Find the gain |H| = |vout/vin| in dB.
R = 3.3 kΩC = 4.7 nFf = 21 kHz
|H| = dB
8.Bode plots & marginsHard
A unity-feedback loop has the open-loop transfer function L(s) = 16/(s(s + 2)(s + 8)). Find the phase crossover frequency ω180, where ∠L(jω) = −180°.
L(s) = 16/(s(s + 2)(s + 8))
ω180 = rad/s
3Solutions
1.Convolution & LTI systems
Answer: y(2) = 3.459
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).
Convolution with a step
y(t) = 4·∫₀ᵗ e−1τ dτ = (4/1)·(1 − e−1t)
Evaluate
y(2) = 4·(1 − e−2) = 3.459
Answer
y(2) = 3.459
2.Convolution & LTI systems
Answer: h(0.2) = 1.353
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)|.
Transfer function
H(s) = Y(s)/X(s) = 10/(s + 10)
Impulse response
h(t) = 10·e−10tu(t)
h(0.2) = 10·e−2 = 1.353
Answer
h(0.2) = 1.353
3.Laplace transforms
Answer: f(0.3) = 1.081
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).
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
s²Y − 7s − (−15) + 9(sY − 7) + 20Y = 0
Y(s) = (7s + 48)/((s + 4)(s + 5))
Partial fractions
A = 20/1 = 20
B = 13/(−1) = −13
Result
y(t) = 20·e−4t − 13·e−5t
y(0.25) = 3.633
Answer
y(0.25) = 3.633
Check: y(0) = A + B = 7.
5.Step response
Answer: ts = 0.8889 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).
Compare with the standard form
The denominator must match s² + 2ζωₙs + ωₙ².
ωₙ² = 84 → ωₙ = 9.165 rad/s
2ζωₙ = 9 → ζ = 9/(2·9.165) = 0.491
Result
ζωₙ = 4.5 → ts ≈ 4/4.5 = 0.8889 s
Answer
ts = 0.8889 s
6.Step response
Answer: %OS = 52.8 %
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).
Natural frequency and damping ratio
ωₙ = √(k/m) = √(5000/5) = 31.62 rad/s
ζ = c/(2√(km)) = 63/(2·√(5000·5)) = 0.1992
Result
%OS = 100·e−ζπ/√(1−ζ²) = 52.8 %
Answer
%OS = 52.8 %
7.Bode plots & margins
Answer: |H| = −7.15 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.
Corner frequency
ωc = 1/(RC) = 1/(3300·4.7 × 10⁻⁹) = 64475 rad/s
fc = 10261 Hz → f/fc = 21000/10261 = 2.046
Gain
|H| = 1/√(1 + 2.046²) = 0.439
20·log₁₀(0.439) = −7.15 dB
Answer
|H| = −7.15 dB
8.Bode plots & margins
Answer: ω180 = 4 rad/s
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.