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)t210h(t)t1

The pulse x(t) = 10 for 0 ≤ t < 2 s (zero elsewhere) is applied to a system with h(t) = e−2tu(t). Find the output y(4) at t = 4 s, after the pulse has ended.

x(t) = 10, 0 ≤ t < 2 sh(t) = e−2tu(t)t = 4 s
y(4) =
2.Convolution & LTI systemsHard
u[n]0.5+y[n]−0.8·z⁻¹+

A system obeys y[n] = −0.8·y[n − 1] + 0.5·x[n] and starts at rest. The input is the unit step x[n] = u[n]. Find y[3].

y[n] = −0.8y[n − 1] + 0.5x[n]x[n] = u[n]
y[3] =
3.Laplace transformsMedium
t (s)f(t)t = 0.4f(0.4) = ?

Find f(t) for F(s) = 10/(s(s + 1)(s + 3)) by partial fractions, and evaluate f(0.4).

F(s) = 10/(s(s + 1)(s + 3))t = 0.4 s
f(0.4) =
4.Laplace transformsHard
t (s)y(t)t = 0.25y(0.25) = ?

A system obeys y″ + 10y′ + 24y = 48·u(t). It starts at rest (y(0) = 0, y′(0) = 0) and the input is a step u(t) = 2 for t ≥ 0. Use the Laplace transform to find the output y(0.25).

y″ + 10y′ + 24y = 48·u(t)u(t) = 2y(0) = 0, y′(0) = 0t = 0.25 s
y(0.25) =
5.Step responseMedium
t (s)y(t)0.5

A system has the transfer function G(s) = 24/(s² + 9s + 48) and receives a unit step input. Find the damping ratio ζ.

G(s) = 24/(s² + 9s + 48)
ζ =
6.Step responseHard
k = 500 N/mc = 42 N·s/mm = 2.5 kgF = 100 Nx(t)

A mass m = 2.5 kg hangs on a spring k = 500 N/m with a viscous damper c = 42 N·s/m (m·x″ + c·x′ + k·x = F). At rest in equilibrium, a constant force F = 100 N is suddenly applied. Find the largest displacement xmax in mm.

m = 2.5 kgk = 500 N/mc = 42 N·s/mF = 100 N
xmax = mm
7.Bode plots & marginsMedium
|H| (dB)0.10.111101010010010001000−40−200204060ω (rad/s)φ (°)ω (rad/s)−135−90−450ω = 3

Find the phase ∠G(jω) of G(s) = 31(s + 16)/(s(s + 12)) at ω = 3 rad/s, in degrees.

G(s) = 31(s + 16)/(s(s + 12))ω = 3 rad/s
∠G(jω) = °
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) = K/(s(s + 1)(s + 4)). Find the gain K that gives a gain margin of 12 dB.

L(s) = K/(s(s + 1)(s + 4))GM = 12 dB
K =

3Solutions

1.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: y(4) = 0.0899

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) = (10/2)(1 − e−4) = 4.908

Decay after the pulse

y(4) = 4.908·e−2·2 = 0.0899

Answer

y(4) = 0.0899
2.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: y[3] = 0.164

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] = 0.5
y[1] = 0.1
y[2] = 0.42
y[3] = 0.164

Result

y[3] = 0.5·(1 − (−0.8)4)/(1 − (−0.8)) = 0.164

Answer

y[3] = 0.164
3.Laplace transforms

Answer: f(0.4) = 0.4837

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).

Partial fractions

F(s) = A/s + B/(s + 1) + C/(s + 3)
A = 10/(1·3) = 3.333
B = 10/((−1)·2) = −5
C = 10/((−3)·(−2)) = 1.667

Inverse transform

f(t) = 3.333 − 5·e−t + 1.667·e−3t

Evaluate

f(0.4) = 3.333 − 5·e−0.4 + 1.667·e−3·0.4 = 0.4837

Answer

f(0.4) = 0.4837
4.Laplace transforms

Answer: y(0.25) = 1.37

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) = 96/(s(s + 4)(s + 6))

Partial fractions

A = 96/(4·6) = 4
B = 96/((−4)·2) = −12
C = 96/((−6)·(−2)) = 8

Output

y(t) = 4 − 12·e−4t + 8·e−6t
y(0.25) = 1.37

Answer

y(0.25) = 1.37
5.Step response

Answer: ζ = 0.6495

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 = 48 → ωₙ = 6.928 rad/s
2ζωₙ = 9 → ζ = 9/(2·6.928) = 0.6495

Result

ζ = 0.6495

Answer

ζ = 0.6495
6.Step response

Answer: xmax = 219.7 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) = √(500/2.5) = 14.14 rad/s
ζ = c/(2√(km)) = 42/(2·√(500·2.5)) = 0.594

Result

xst = F/k = 100/500 m = 200 mm
%OS = 9.832 %
xmax = 200·(1 + 0.09832) = 219.7 mm

Answer

xmax = 219.7 mm
7.Bode plots & margins

Answer: ∠G(jω) = −93.42 °

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.

Add the angles

∠G = atan(3/16) − 90° − atan(3/12) = 10.62° − 90° − 14.04°

Result

∠G(j3) = −93.42°

Answer

∠G(jω) = −93.42°
8.Bode plots & margins

Answer: K = 5.024

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/1)·(ω/4) = 1 → ω180 = √(1·4) = 2 rad/s

Magnitude at phase crossover

|L(jω180)| = K/(ω·√(ω² + 1)·√(ω² + 16)) = K/(1·4·(1 + 4)) = K/20

Required gain

20/K = 1012/20 = 3.981
K = 20/3.981 = 5.024

Answer

K = 5.024

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