Connexions module: m10549

The Z Transform: Definition

Version 2.9: Jun 1, 2005 9:10 pm GMT-5

Benjamin Fite
This work is produced by The Connexions Project and licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution License

Abstract
A brief denition of the z-transform, explaining its relationship with the Fourier
transform and its region of convergence, ROC.

The Z Transform: Denition

1 Basic Denition of the Z-Transform
The z-transform of a sequence is dened as

(1)

x [n] z n

X (z) =
n=

Sometimes this equation is referred to as the

transform is dened as

bilateral z-transform.

At times the z(2)

x [n] z n

X (z) =
n=0

which is known as the unilateral z-transform.

There is a close relationship between the z-transform and the Fourier
discrete time signal, which is dened as

transform

of a

x [n] e(in)

X ei =

(3)

n=

Notice that that when the z n is replaced with e(in) the z-transform reduces to the Fourier
Transform. When the Fourier Transform exists, z = ei , which is to have the magnitude
of z equal to unity.

2 The Complex Plane

In order to get further insight into the relationship between the Fourier Transform and the
Z-Transform it is useful to look at the complex plane or z-plane. Take a look at the complex
plane:
The Z-plane is a complex plane with an imaginary and real axis referring to the complexvalued variable z . The position on the complex plane is given by rei , and the angle from
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/1.0

http://cnx.org/content/m10549/latest/

Connexions module: m10549

Z-Plane

Figure 1

the positive, real axis around the plane is denoted by . X (z) is dened everywhere on this
plane. X ei on the other hand is dened only where |z| = 1, which is referred to as the
unit circle. So for example, = 1 at z = 1 and = at z = 1. This is useful because, by
representing the Fourier transform as the z-transform on the unit circle, the periodicity of
Fourier transform is easily seen.

3 Region of Convergence
The region of convergence, known as the ROC, is important to understand because it
denes the region where the z-transform exists. The ROC for a given x [n] , is dened as the
range of z for which the z-transform converges. Since the z-transform is a power series, it
converges when x [n] z n is absolutely summable. Stated dierently,

(4)

|x [n] z n | <
n=

must be satised for convergence. This is best illustrated by looking at the dierent ROC's
of the z-transforms of n u [n] and n u [n 1].
Example 1:

For

http://cnx.org/content/m10549/latest/

x [n] = n u [n]

(5)

Connexions module: m10549

Figure 2: x [n] = n u [n] where = 0.5.

X (z)

n
)
n= (x [n] z

n
( u [n] z n )
n=

n n
)
n=0 ( z
n

z 1
n=0

=
=
=
=

(6)

This sequence is an example of a right-sided exponential sequence because it is

nonzero for n 0. It only converges when |z 1 | < 1. When it converges,
X (z)

If |z 1 | 1, then the series,

is the range of values where

=
=

1
1z 1
z
z

(7)

does not converge. Thus the ROC

|z 1 | < 1

(8)

|z| > ||

(9)

x [n] = ( (n )) u [n 1]

(10)

n=0

z 1

or, equivalently,

Example 2:

For

http://cnx.org/content/m10549/latest/

Connexions module: m10549

Figure 3: ROC for x [n] = n u [n] where = 0.5

Figure 4: x [n] = ( (n )) u [n 1] where = 0.5.

http://cnx.org/content/m10549/latest/

Connexions module: m10549

Figure 5: ROC for x [n] = ( (n )) u [n 1]

X (z)

=
=
=
=
=
=

n
)
n= (x [n] z

n
(( ( )) u [n
n=
1
n n

)
n= ( z
1
1 n
z

n=

1 n

z
n=1
n

1 n=0 1 z

1] z n )

(11)

The ROC in this case is the range of values where

|1 z| < 1

(12)

|z| < ||

(13)

or, equivalently,
If the ROC is satised, then
X (z)

http://cnx.org/content/m10549/latest/

=
=

1
z
z

1
11 z

(14)