Homework 3

EE235, Spring 2012

Solution
Each problem or problem-part worth one point.
1. An LTI system has impulse response h(t) = (t 2) 21 (t 4). Describe in words what
the output signal y(t) would be given an input x(t).
The system y(t) would be a linear combination of x(t) delayed by t = 2 and x(t) delayed
by t = 4, inverted and halved.
2. Use the definition of the convolution integral to derive the distribution property, x(t)
(h(t) + g(t)) = x(t) h(t) + x(t) g(t).

Z
x(t) (h(t) + g(t))

x(t )(h(t) + g(t))d

x(t )h(t) + x(t )g(t)d

Z
x(t )h(t)d +
x(t )g(t)d

x(t) h(t) + x(t) g(t)

3. The impulse response of an LTI system is h(t) = (t) + (t 10). What is the system
response to an input x(t)? Please express the response in terms of x(t).

y(t)

= x(t) + x(t 10)

4. An LTI system has impulse response h(t) = (t 1). What is the system response y(t) to
an input x(t) = 5(t 2)?

y(t)

5(t 3)

5. An LTI system has impulse response h(t) = (t 2) 21 (t 4). Find the system response
y(t) to an input x(t) = cos(5t)?

y(t)

1
= cos(5(t 2)) cos(5(t 4))
2

6. f (t) = u(t + 1) u(t) and g(t) = u(t 2) u(t 5). Let z(t) be the convolution z(t) =
f (t) g(t). Sketch z(t). Mark its maximum value.
The maximum occurs between t = 2 and t = 4.

1.4

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
10

10

15

20

Figure 1:
7. An LTI system has impulse response h(t) = e5t (u(t) u(t 3)). What is the system
response y(t) to an input signal x(t) = et u(t)?
Given system response h(t) = e5t (u(t) u(t 3)) and input x(t) = et u(t), the output is
y(t) = x(t) h(t) We could flip and shift either function, but it will be easier to flip x(t).
R
y(t) = x(t )h( )d
R
= e(t ) u(t )e5 (u( ) u( 3))d
R
= e(t+6 ) u(t )(u( ) u( 3))d
First, the term u(t ) is nonzero only when t, so we can replace the upper limit of
integration:
Z t
y(t) =
e(t+6 ) u(t )(u( ) u( 3))d

Simplification using a Piecewise signal

Additionally, u( ) u( 3) is nonzero only when 0 3. There are three possibilities:
i) if t < 0 then the limits of the integral are such that is never in the range [0, 3], in which
case the integrand is zero for all values of and so y(t) is zero.
ii) if 0 t 3, then the integrand is nonzero only when 0 t, and
t

e(t+6 ) d =

y(t) =
0

1 5t
(e et )
6

iii) if t > 3 then the integrand is nonzero when 0 3, and

3

e(t+6 ) d =

y(t) =
0

1 t+18
(e
et )
6

So the final answer is:

y(t) =
=
=

0,
1 5t
t
6 (e e ),
1 t+18
et ),
6 (e

t<0
0t<3
3t

Simplification using u(t)

Alternately, the u() terms can be eliminated by distributing the terms in the integrand
and writing the answer using u() terms to capture the piecewise nature of the y(t)
Z t
Z t
y(t) =
e(t+6 ) u(t )u( )d
e(t+6 ) u(t )u( 3)d

In the first integral, u(t )u( ) is nonzero when 0 t, so we can change the limits of
integration as long as we include a u(t) term to require that 0 t. For the second integral,
u(t )u( 3) is nonzero when 3 t, and u(t 3) is included to require that 3 t.
Z t
Z t
(t+6 )
= u(t)
e
d u(t 3)
e(t+6 ) d
0

Simplifying yields an equivalent final answer:

1
1
u(t)(e(t+6 ) )|t0 u(t 3)(e(t+6 ) )|t3
6
6
1
1
5t
t
= u(t)(e e ) u(t 3)((e5t et+18 ))
6
6
=

R
8. Given that x(t)dt = 7, if x(t) is input to an LTI system with impulse response h(t) =
(t) + (t
R 2) + (t 5) + (t 13) + (t 43) + (t 58), and we call the system output
y(t), find y(t)dt.
Z

Z
y(t)dt

x(t) h(t)dt

=
Z

x(t) ((t) + (t 2) + (t 5) + (t 13) + (t 43) + (t 58))dt

=
Z
=
Z
=

x(t) + x(t 2) + x(t 5) + x(t 13) + x(t 43) + x(t 58)dt

Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
x(t)dt + x(t 2)dt + x(t 5)dt + x(t 13)dt + x(t 43)dt + x(t 58)dt

7+7+7+7+7+7

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9. For each of the following impulse responses determine if the corresponding system is (i)
causal, (ii) stable:
(a) h(t) = cos(t)
The system is:
(i) Not causal, t can have negative
values
R
(ii) Not stable, Integrating |cos(t)|dt =
(b) h(t) = e2t u(t 1)
The system is:
(i) causal, h(t) = 0 for all t < 1
R
R
(ii) stable, |e2t u(t 1)|dt = 1 |e2t u(t 1)|dt =

e2
2

(c) h(t) = u(t + 1)

The system is:
(i) Not causal, for
R 1 < t < 0, h(t)Risnonzero
(ii) Not stable, |u(t + 1)|dt = 1 1dt =
(d) h(t) = 3(t + 3) + 3(t 3)
The system is:
(i) Not causal,
R for t = 3, h(t) is nonzero
(ii) Stable, |3(t + 3) + 3(t 3)|dt = 6
10. Consider a system where an input x(t) results in an output y(t) = 5x(t + 1) 5x(t)
5x(t 1).
a) What is the impulse response h(t) of this system?
h(t) = 5(t + 1) 5(t) 5(t 1)
b) What is this systems response to an input z(t) = et [u(t 2) u(t 4)]?
y(t) = 5(et+1 [u(t 1) u(t 3)] + et [u(t 2) u(t 4)] + et1 [u(t 3) u(t 5)])
11. A friend of yours claims that the output of any LTI system corresponding to the input
x(t) is y(t), i.e., time-reversal of input results in time-reversal at the output. Verify
this claim, i.e., prove or disprove the assertion.
The definition of an LTI system does not state that x(t) will produce y(t), so this
assertion is incorrect. Consider an LTI causing a simple delay: h(t) = (t t0 ). Let
x(t) = (t), so we have y(t) = x(t) h(t) = (t t0 ) and thus for t0 6= 0 we have
y(t) = (t t0 ) = (t + t0 ) 6= y(t).
However, x(t) = x(t), which indicates that the above assertion is wrong.
12. The system shown in (a) is made up of three LTI systems, whose impulse responses are
h1 (t), h2 (t) and h3 (t), respectively.

h1(t)

h2(t)

x(t)

y(t)

h3(t)

(a)

x(t)

h(t)

(b)

y(t)

Does there exist any single LTI system which is equivalent to the system shown in (a), i.e.,
for any input x(t), can a single LTI system produce exactly the same output y(t)? Justify
your answer. If yes, give the impulse response of this single LTI system.
Yes the system in (a) can look like the system in (b):
y(t)

[x(t) h1 (t)] h2 (t) + x(t) h3 (t)

= x(t)[h1 (t) h2 (t) + h3 (t)]

Therefore:
h(t)

= h1 (t) h2 (t) + h3 (t)

13. Convolution and time delay. Convolution is defined as

Z
x( )h(t )d
y(t) =

Convolution is commonly represented as

y(t) = x(t) h(t)
BUT beware that this notation may be misleading because:
y(t a) 6= x(t a) h(t a)
where a is a real constant for the delay.
This problem investigates the correct way to think about y(t a)
(a) Prove that f (t) (t b) = f (t b), where b is a real constant using the convolution
integral.
Use the definition of convolution to write the integral
Z
f (t) (t b) =
f ( )(t b)d

since the dirac delta has the property that f ( )( a) = f (a)( a),
Z
=
f (t b)(t b)d

Z
= f (t b)
(t b)d

= f (t b)
(b) Prove that (t c) (t d) = (t c d), where c and d are real constants. Let
f (t) = (t c), then use part 13a.
f (t) (t d) = f (t d) = (t c d)
(c) Let y(t) = x(t) h(t). Prove that y(t a) 6= x(t a) h(t a) by finding what
x(t a) h(t a) is in terms of y(t)? Use the associative and commutative properties
of convolution, as well as the part (13a) and (13b) above.
x(t a) h(t a) = [x(t) (t a)] [h(t) (t a)]
= [(t a) (t a)] [x(t) h(t)]
= (t 2a) y(t)
= y(t 2a)

14. Graphical convolution. Given the convolution y(t) = x1 (t) x2 (t), where
x1 (t) = t[u(t + 2) u(t) u(t 3) + u(t 4)]
and
x2 (t) = u(t 1)
(a) Sketch x1 and x2 .
4

x1 (t)
x2 (t)

3
2
1
t
4

(b) How many different regions will y(t) have?

(c) What are the time boundaries of each region?
(d) Label each region as
Constant if y(t) is constant in that region
Increasing if y(t) is increasing in value in that region
Decreasing if y(t) is decreasing in value in that region
4 regions:

increasing region from t = 1 to t = 1

constant region from t = 1 to t = 4
increasing region from t = 4 to t = 5
constant region from t = 5 to t

(5 regions if you count the zero region when t < 1)

15. Determine and sketch the convolution y(t) = h(t) x(t), given that
h(t) = (t + 2) + 2(t + 1)

t + 1, 0 t 1
x(t) = 2 t 1 < t 2

0
otherwise
This is x(t)
1.5
1
0.5
2

x(t)

t
2

Since y(t) is
y(t) = x(t) ((t + 2) + 2(t + 1)) = x(t + 2) + 2x(t + 1)

y(t)

x(t + 2)
2x(t + 1)

1
t

t
2

16. Causal and Stable. These are impulse responses for LTI systems. Which of these LTI
system impulse responses represent BIBO stable systems? Which systems are causal?
(a) h(t) = (t + 2)

|h(t)|dt = 1

Bounded

h(2) > 0

Not causal

(b) h(t) = u(t)

Z

|u(t)|dt =

1dt =

Not Bounded

h(t) > 0 for t < 0

Not causal

(c) h(t) = cos(t)

Z

|cos(t)|dt =

Not Bounded

h(t) 6= 0 for t < 0

Not causal

(d) h(t) = e2t+2

Z

|e2t+2 |dt =

Not Bounded

h(t) 6= 0 for t < 0

(e) h(t) = e2t+2 u(t)
Z

|e2t+2 u(t)|dt =

Not causal

e2t+2 dt =

1 2
e
2

h(t) = 0 for t < 0

Bounded
Causal

(f) h(t) = 1
Z

|1|dt =

Not Bounded

h(t) = 1 for t < 0

Not Causal

17. Calculate y(t) = f (t) g(t) for the signal pairs below, and sketch your results.
(a) f (t) = u(t) u(t 1)
g(t) = u(t) u(t 3)
Solution using graphical convolution:
1

t3

f ( )
g(t )

Then set up the integrals with proper limits

0
t<0

Rt

0<t<1
R0 1d
1
f (t) g(t) =
1d
t > 1 and t 3 < 0

R01

t3 1d 0 < t 3 < 1

0
t3>1

0
t<0

t
0
<t<1

= 1
1<t<3

4t 3<t<4

0
t>4

 



= t u(t) u(t 1) + u(t 1) u(t 3) + (4 t) u(t 3) u(t 4)

Solution using properties of convolution:

Distributing the convolution, we get
f (t) g(t) = u(t) u(t) u(t) u(t 3) u(t 1) u(t) + u(t 1) u(t 3)
Let w(t) be the convolution of u(t) u(t). Consider the graphical convolution.
When t < 0, the signals do not overlap, so the convolution will be 0 for t < 0
1

u( )
u(t )

t
When t > 0, the signals do overlap.
1

u( )
u(t )

The overlap occurs for 0 < < t, so

u( )u(t )d

w(t) = u(t) u(t) =

Z t
=

1d, t > 0
0

0,
t<0
(
t, t > 0
0,

t<0

= tu(t)
1 w(t)
0.5
2

t
1

Now express f (t) g(t) in terms of w(t):

f (t) g(t) = w(t) w(t 3) w(t 1) + w(t 4)
= tu(t) (t 3)u(t 3) (t 1)u(t 1) + (t + 4)u(t + 4)
***Note that the form is different from the graphical method solution, but it is actually
the same function. The result must look like the following plot:
2 f (t) g(t)
1
t
2
(b) f (t) = et u(t)
g(t) = et u(t)

for > 0, > 0, 6=

f (t) g(t) =

f ( )g(t )d

e u( )e(t ) u(t )d

For t < 0, there is no overlap

1

e u( )
e(t ) u(t )

t
For t > 0, there is an overlapping region
1

e u( )
e(t ) u(t )

e e(t ) d
Z t
= u(t)et
e() d

f (t) g(t) = u(t)

 =t
1
e()  =0

1
= u(t)et
[e()t 1]

1
[et et ]
= u(t)

= u(t)e

18. Consider the following interconnection of LTI systems h1 (t) and h2 (t).

(a) Express the overall system response of hT OT (t) in terms of the impulse responses
h1 (t) and h2 (t).
o
n

hT OT (t) = h1 (t) h1 (t) + h1 (t) h2 (t) + h1 (t) h2 (t)
h1 (t) h2 (t) h2 (t)

(b) Assume that system 1 is the inverse of system 2, so that h1 (t) h2 (t) = (t). Simplify
your answer to (a).
o
n

hT OT (t) = h1 (t) h1 (t) + h1 (t) h2 (t) + h1 (t) h2 (t) h1 (t) h2 (t) h2 (t)
o
n

= h1 (t) h1 (t) + h1 (t) h2 (t) + h1 (t) h2 (t) h2 (t)
n
o

= h1 (t) + (t) + h1 (t) h2 (t) h2 (t)
n
o

= (t) + h2 (t) + (t) h2 (t)
= 2(t)

(c) From your answer in (b), what is the purpose of the overall system?
This system amplifies the input by 2.
19. Define the area under a continuous-time signal f (t) as
Z
Af =
f (t)dt.

10

Show that if y(t) = x(t) h(t), then Ay = Ax Ah .

Z
Ay =
y(t)dt

Z
[x(t) h(t)]dt
=

Z Z
x( )h(t )d dt
=


Z Z
x( )h(t )dt d
=


Z
Z
h(t )dt d
x( )
=


Z
Z
h(z)dz d
=
x( )

Z
= Ah
x( )d

= Ah Ax

Alternatively, you could note that convolving y(t) with a signal which was just a constant
1 everywhere would give you a signal which was a constant Ay everywhere. Let the signal
which is a constant 1 everywhere be w(t) = 1.
Ay w(t) = y(t) w(t)
Then use properties of convolution
Ay w(t) = [x(t) h(t)] w(t)
= x(t) [h(t) w(t)]
= x(t) Ah w(t)
= [x(t) w(t)]Ah
= Ax Ah w(t)
So then Ay = Ax Ah
20. Determine if each of the following statements about LTI systems is true or false. Write a
sentence justifying your answer.
(a) If an LTI system is causal, then it is stable.
False Consider a counterexample: h(t) = u(t) (causal but not stable) or h(t) =
tu(t) (stable but not causal). Causality and stability are independent properties.
(b) The cascade of a noncausal LTI system with a causal LTI system must be noncausal.
False Consider a counterexample: the causal system h1 (t) = (t 2) and the noncausal system h2 (t) = (t + 2). Their cascade yields the system h(t) = h1 (t) h2 (t) =
(t) which is causal.
(c) Time-reversing the input to a LTI system results in a time-reversed output.
False Consider a counterexamle: let the system be h(t) = (t 1). When the
input is x(t), the output is y(t) = x(t 1). If the statement were true, we expect
that reversing the input should output x(t 1). But, when the input is x(t), the
output is x((t 1)) 6= x(t 1), disproving the statement. (Any LTI system whose
impulse response is not an even function should give a counter-example.)

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BONUS LEARNING: The Henry Distance (no points). In room acoustics there are three phenomena that we refer to as direct sound, early reflections, and reverberation. A man by the
name of Joseph Henry was the first to write about these phenomena over 150 years ago. He
determined there was a distance at which a person who is standing in an open environment
facing a wall would no longer hear an echo off the wall. This distance is referred to as the Henry
Distance. Check this out for yourself by finding an open space with a wall about 100 feet away.
Clap your hands and listen for an echo. If you hear an echo move closer to the wall and try
again. Determine the distance from the wall at which an echo is no longer audible. Learn more
about Joseph Henry here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph Henry, and compare your value to the
value we know as the Henry Distance.

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