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)t24h(t)t1

The pulse x(t) = 4 for 0 ≤ t < 2 s (zero elsewhere) is applied to a system with h(t) = e−4tu(t). Find the output y(3.5) at t = 3.5 s, after the pulse has ended.

x(t) = 4, 0 ≤ t < 2 sh(t) = e−4tu(t)t = 3.5 s
y(3.5) =
2.Convolution & LTI systemsHard
10cos(10t)h(t) = 5e−10t​u(t)y(t)

The input x(t) = 10·cos(10t) is applied to a system with h(t) = 5·e−10tu(t). Find the phase φ of the steady-state output relative to the input, in degrees.

h(t) = 5e−10tu(t)x(t) = 10cos(10t)
φ = °
3.Laplace transformsMedium
ReIm−1−2−3−4−5−6−71

F(s) = (5s + 31)/(s² + 8s + 12). Its inverse transform has the form f(t) = A·e−2t + B·e−6t. Find the coefficient A by partial fractions.

F(s) = (5s + 31)/(s² + 8s + 12)
A =
4.Laplace transformsHard
t (s)y(t)t = 0.1y(0.1) = ?

A system obeys y″ + 8y′ + 15y = 45·u(t). It starts at rest (y(0) = 0, y′(0) = 0) and the input is a step u(t) = 5 for t ≥ 0. Use the Laplace transform to find the output y(0.1).

y″ + 8y′ + 15y = 45·u(t)u(t) = 5y(0) = 0, y′(0) = 0t = 0.1 s
y(0.1) =
5.Step responseMedium
t (s)y(t)3ts​ = ?

A system has the transfer function G(s) = 108/(s² + 5s + 36) and receives a unit step input. Find the 2 % settling time ts of the step response, using ts ≈ 4/(ζωₙ).

G(s) = 108/(s² + 5s + 36)
ts = s
6.Step responseHard
k = 1000 N/mc = 20 N·s/mm = 2.5 kgF = 10 Nx(t)

A mass m = 2.5 kg hangs on a spring k = 1000 N/m with a viscous damper c = 20 N·s/m (m·x″ + c·x′ + k·x = F). At rest in equilibrium, a constant force F = 10 N is suddenly applied. Find the largest displacement xmax in mm.

m = 2.5 kgk = 1000 N/mc = 20 N·s/mF = 10 N
xmax = mm
7.Bode plots & marginsMedium
vin​R = 2.2 kΩC = 47 nFvout​

The RC low-pass filter shown has R = 2.2 kΩ, C = 47 nF. A sinusoidal input of 6.2 kHz is applied. Find the gain |H| = |vout/vin| in dB.

R = 2.2 kΩC = 47 nFf = 6.2 kHz
|H| = dB
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) = 322/(s(s + 6)(s + 9)). Find the gain margin GM in dB.

L(s) = 322/(s(s + 6)(s + 9))
GM = dB

3Solutions

1.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: y(3.5) = 0.002478

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).

Output at the end of the pulse

y(2) = (4/4)(1 − e−8) = 0.9997

Decay after the pulse

y(3.5) = 0.9997·e−4·1.5 = 0.002478

Answer

y(3.5) = 0.002478
2.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: φ = −45 °

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/(10 + jω)

Phase at the input frequency

φ = −atan(10/10) = −45°

Answer

φ = −45°
3.Laplace transforms

Answer: A = 5.25

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 + 8s + 12 = (s + 2)(s + 6)
F(s) = A/(s + 2) + B/(s + 6)

Cover-up rule

Multiply by (s + 2) and set s = −2: the B-term vanishes.

A = (5s + 31)/(s + 6) |s = −2 = 21/4 = 5.25

Answer

A = 5.25
(B = −0.25, so f(t) = 5.25·e−2t − 0.25·e−6t)
4.Laplace transforms

Answer: y(0.1) = 0.8663

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

Y(s) = 225/(s(s + 3)(s + 5))

Partial fractions

A = 225/(3·5) = 15
B = 225/((−3)·2) = −37.5
C = 225/((−5)·(−2)) = 22.5

Output

y(t) = 15 − 37.5·e−3t + 22.5·e−5t
y(0.1) = 0.8663

Answer

y(0.1) = 0.8663
5.Step response

Answer: ts = 1.6 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 = 36 → ωₙ = 6 rad/s
2ζωₙ = 5 → ζ = 5/(2·6) = 0.4167

Result

ζωₙ = 2.5 → ts ≈ 4/2.5 = 1.6 s

Answer

ts = 1.6 s
6.Step response

Answer: xmax = 15.27 mm

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) = √(1000/2.5) = 20 rad/s
ζ = c/(2√(km)) = 20/(2·√(1000·2.5)) = 0.2

Result

xst = F/k = 10/1000 m = 10 mm
%OS = 52.66 %
xmax = 10·(1 + 0.5266) = 15.27 mm

Answer

xmax = 15.27 mm
7.Bode plots & margins

Answer: |H| = −12.36 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/(2200·4.7 × 10⁻⁸) = 9671 rad/s
fc = 1539 Hz → f/fc = 6200/1539 = 4.028

Gain

|H| = 1/√(1 + 4.028²) = 0.2409
20·log₁₀(0.2409) = −12.36 dB

Answer

|H| = −12.36 dB
8.Bode plots & margins

Answer: GM = 8.013 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/6)·(ω/9) = 1 → ω180 = √(6·9) = 7.348 rad/s

Magnitude at phase crossover

|L(jω180)| = K/(ω·√(ω² + 36)·√(ω² + 81)) = K/(6·9·(6 + 9)) = K/810

Gain margin

GM = 20·log₁₀(810/322) = 8.013 dB

Answer

GM = 8.013 dB

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