Z-TRANSFORM

INTRODUCTION TO THE Z-TRANSFORM

Transform techniques are important tools in analysis of signals and linear time invariant systems.
We learned about the Laplace transform, which is a useful tool for solving differential equations
and for doing system analysis on continuous-time systems. Our development now continues to
the Z-transform. This is a transform technique used for discrete time signals and systems. As you
might expect, many of the tools and techniques that we developed using Laplace transforms will
transfer over to the Z-transform techniques.

The Z-transform is simply a power series representation of a discrete time sequence.

For example, if we have the sequence x[0]; x[1]; x[2]; x[3], the Z-transform simply multiplies
each coefficient in the sequence by a power of z corresponding to its index. In this example
X (z) = x[0] + x[1]z−1 + x[2]z−2 + x[3]z−3.

The z-transform of a discrete-time signal x(n) is defined by


X ( z)   x ( n) z
n  
n

where z  re j is a complex variable. The values of z for which the sum converges define a
region in z-plane referred to as the region of convergence (ROC).

1. Notation
If x(n) has a z-transform X(z), we write

x(n) 
Z
X ( z)

2. ROC
ROC is determined by the range of values of r for which


 x ( n) r
n  
n


If {x(n)} is defined for n = 0,1,2…, and x(n) = 0 for n < 0 , then the Z-transform is written as
{ }= ( )=∑ ( ) , where z is an arbitrary complex number. This is called one
sided Z – Transform.

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 Properties of Z-Transform

1. Linearity

If x(n) has a z-transform X(z) with a region of convergence Rx, and if y(n) has a z-transform
Y(z) with a region of convergence Ry,

w(n)  ax(n)  by(n) 

Z
W ( z )  aX ( z )  bY ( z )

Rx  R y
and the ROC of W(z) will include the intersection of Rx and Ry, that is, Rw contains .

2. Shifting property

If x(n) has a z-transform X(z),

x(n  n0 ) 
Z
z  n0 X ( z )
.

3. Time reversal

If x(n) has a z-transform X(z) with a region of convergence Rx that is the annulus   z   , the
z-transform of the time-reversed sequence x(-n) is

x(n) 
Z
X ( z 1 ) and has a region of convergence 1   z  1  , which is denoted by 1 Rx .

4. Multiplication by an exponential

If a sequence x(n) is multiplied by a complex exponential  ,

n

 n x(n) 
Z
X ( 1 z ) .

5. Convolution theorem

If x(n) has a z-transform X(z) with a region of convergence Rx, and if h(n) has a z-transform
H(z) with a region of convergence Rh,

y(n)  x(n)  h(n) 

Z
Y ( z)  X ( z)H ( z) .

The ROC of Y(z) will include the intersection of Rx and Rh, that is, Ry contains Rx  Rh .

With x(n), y(n), and h(n) denoting the input, output, and unit-sample response, respectively, and
X(z), Y(x), and H(z) their z-transforms. The z-transform of the unit-sample response is often
referred to as the system function.

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 6. Conjugation

If X(z) is the z-transform of x(n), the z-transform of the complex conjugate of x(n) is
x  (n) 
Z
X  (z ) .

7. Derivative
k
If X(z) is the z-transform of x(n), the z-transform of n x(n) is

dX ( z )
nx ( n) 
Z
z
dz .

8. Initial value theorm

If X(z) is the z-transform of x(n) and x(n) is equal to zero for n<0, the initial value, x(0), maybe
be found from X(z) as follows: x (0)  lim X ( z ) .
z 

Example 1. Find the z-transform of the unit pulse or impulse sequence { ( )} = ( ) , where
1 =0
( )= .
0 ≠0

Solution: By Definition ( ) = { ( )}

= ∑∞ ( ) =1+ 0 + 0 + ...
∴ { ( )} = 1

{ ( )}

Example 2. Find z-transform of the unit-step sequence {x(n)}= {u(n)}, where

1 <0
( )= .
0 >0

Solution : By Definition ( ) = { ( )}

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 = ∑∞ ( )

= ∑∞ 1∙

=1+ + +⋯

= 1−

Example 3. Find z-transform of the sequence {x(n)}= {an u(n)}.

Solution: From Definition ( ) = { ( )}

= ∑∞ ( )

= ∑∞

=1+ + +⋯

= 1−

n
Z{aZ{n
Example 4. Find }=u(n)}.

Solution: By Definition ( ) = { ( )}

= ∑∞ ∙ ( )

= ∑∞

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 =0+1+ + +⋯

= 1+2 +3 +⋯

= 1−

=( )

Z{n }=( )

Example 5. Obtain ( ) , if |z| >1.

Solution: By Definition ( ) = { ( )}

= ∑∞ ∙ ,n>0

= ∑∞

= + + +⋯

= + + +⋯

= 1−

1
=
−1

Example 6: Prove that ( ) =

Proof: By Definition Definition ( ) = { ( )}

= ∑∞ ∙ ( ) ,n>0

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 = ∑∞ ( )

=1+ + + +⋯

= + + +⋯

= ∙ 1−

= ∙

1
= ∙
+1 −1

Example 7: Prove that ( ) = , n > 1.

Proof: By Definition Definition ( ) = { ( )}

= ∑∞ ∙ ( ) ,n>0

= ∑∞ ( )

= + + …

= + + +⋯

= ∙ 1−

= ∙

1 1
= ∙
−1 −1

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 Example 8: Obtain !
( ) .

Solution: By Definition ( ) = { ( )}

= ∑∞ !
∙ ( ) ,n>0

= ∑∞ !

=1+ !
+ !
+ !
+⋯

= .

1
=
!

Example 9: Obtain ( )!
( ) .

Solution: By Definition ( ) = { ( )}

= ∑∞ ( )!
∙ ( ) ,n>0

= ∑∞ ( )!

= !
+ !
+ !
+ !
+⋯

= !
+ !
+ !
+⋯

= .

1
=
( + 1)!

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 Example 10) Find: Z !
( )

Solution:

Z !
=∑∞ !

=∑∞ !

=1+ !
+ !
… =

∴ !
=

, ≥0
Example 11) Find Z[ ( )] if f( ) = !
0 , ℎ

Solution: we know that Z[ ( )] = ∑∞ ∞ ( ) ( )

Z[ ( )]=∑∞ !
( )

( )
=∑∞ !

( )
=1+ !
+ !
+………

= [since =1+ !
+ !
+………]

∴ { ( )} =

Example 12) Find z ( )

( )

Solution: By partial fraction => ( )

= −

z = 2log

z = ∑∞

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 =1 + + +.....

= log 1 −

= log

z ( )
= 2log - log

= 2− log

( )
= log

Example 13) Find (cos( ) ( )) (sin( ) ( ))

Solution:

Let us find ( ) and separate real and imaginary parts.

( ) =
−

= ( )

∴ [cos( ) ( )+ ( ) ( )] =
( − cos( ) − ( ))
( ) )
= ( )
∙( ) )

∙( ) ∙
=( ) ( )

∙( ) ∙
=

∙( )
separating real and imaginary parts, (cos( ) ( )= and

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 ∙
(sin(a ) ( ) = .

∙
In particular cos ( ) = =

∙ sin 2
sin ( ) = =
2 − 2 cos 2 + 1 +1

Example 14) Find Z(cos(0.25 n)u(n))

∙ .
Solution: cos ( ) = =
. .

First Shifting Theorem: If Z{x(n)} = X(z), then Z{anu(n)x(n)} = X(z/a).

Problems:

1) Find Z{n anu(n) }.

Solution:

{ ( )} = [ { ( )}] →

= ( ) →

/
=
→

= ( )

∴ { ( )}=
( − )

( )
2) Find .

Solution:

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 1
( ) = ( )
→

= ( ) →

= ( ) →

= ( )

∴ ( ) =
( − )

3) Find !
( ) .

Solution:

1
( ) = ( )
! ! →

=
→

∴ ( ) =
!

4) Find Z{0.7n sin (0.25πn)u(n)}

Solution:

(a sin ) = {sin( )} →

. .
= ( . ) →
.

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 .
= . .

0.707
{ cos }
− 1.41 cos + 0.49

Theorem: { ( ) ( )} = − ( )

Problems:

1) Find Z{n2u(n)}.

Solution:

{ ( )} = { ∙ ( )}

=− { }

=− ( )

( ) . . .( )
=− . ( )

( )
= ( )

( + 1)
{ }=
( − 1)

2) Find { ( )}.

Solution:

d ∙ ( − cos )
Z{n cos nθu(n)} = −z.
dz − 2 cos + 1
( ) ( ) ( )
= − . ( )

= − . ( ) 2 − cos − cos
{ cos } =− .
( − 2 cos + 1)

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 3) Obtain {( ) ( ) }
( )=

Z( )=Z( . )

=>-3 Z( )

( )
Z( )=-3 ( )

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
Z( )=-3 ( )
z=>z/a

=-3

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

=-3 ( )

( ) ( )( )
=-3 ( )

( ) ( )( )
Ans:= -3 ( )

4) Given Y( ) = (1 + ) | |> , ( ) [ ( )]

Gn: Y( )=log(1 + )

=a − ( ) + ( ) − ⋯ + (−1) ( ) +⋯

=∑∞ (−1) ( )

=∑∞ (−1)

( )
=∑∞ −
( )
Therefore y( ) =

Z[ ( )]= - z F( )

=-z (1 + )

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 =-z [− ] = − =

Second Shifting Theorem

If Z{x(n)} =X(z), then Z{x(n-m)} = z-m X(z)

1) Determine the Z - transform of y(n) = 0.5n-5 u(n-5), where u(n-5) =1 for n ≥ 5, and u(n-5) = 0
for n < 5.

Solution:
Using Second shifting Theorem,

Y(z) = Z{ (0.5)n-5u(n-5)}

= z-5Z({(0.5)nu(n)}

z
= z 5 .
z  0.5

z 4
=
z  0.5

2) Determine the Z - transform of y(n) = 0.5n-3 sin(0. 5π(n-3))u(n-3), where u(n-3) =1 for n ≥ 3,
and u(n-3) = 0 for n < 3.
Solution:
Using Second shifting Theorem,
Y(z) = Z{ 0.5n-3 sin(0.5π(n-3))u(n-3) }
= z-3Z({(0.5)n sin(0.5π(n))u(n)}
0.5 sin(0.5 ) z 0.5 z 2
= z 3 =
z 2  2.0.5 cos(0.5 ) z  0.25 z 2  0.25

Convolution Theorem

The convolution of two sequences {x(n)} and {y(n)} is defined as

{ ( ) ∗ ( )} = ( ) ( − )

Theorem: If Z{x(n)} = X(z) and Z{y(n)} = Y(z), then Z{x(n)*y(n)} = X(z) * Y(z).

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 1) If f(x)= ( ) , g(n) = cos ( ), find Z{f(n)* g(n)}

(z) = z = =

( )=z(cos ) = z{(−1) }=

Z{ ( ) ∗ ( )} = ( ) ( )

 1  n
  for n  0
 3 
9) If f (n)   n g(n) = (1/2)n u(n), find Z{f(n)* g(n)}
 1 
 2  for n  0


( )=∑ ∞ + ∑∞

=∑∞ + ∑∞

= 1− + 1−

= +

=
g(n) = (z) = z ( ) =

z{ ( ) ∗ ( )} =

=( ) ( )

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 10) Find z ( )

By partial fraction => −

z = 2log

z = ∑∞

=1 + + +.....

= log 1 −

= log

z ( )
= 2log - log

= log 2−

= log

INVERSE Z TRANSFORM

If Z{x(n)} = X(z) is the Z -Transform of {x(n)} then the x(n) = Z-1{X(z)}is the inverse Z-
Transform.

1) Find inverse Z-Transform of ( )= 4− − .

Solution : x(n) = 4Z {1} − 6Z −Z .

From the table of transforms, we have

x(n) = 4δ(n) - 6u(n) - (-0.5)n

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 2) Infer x(n) from ( ) = +( )

Solution: Taking inverse Z transform on both sides

( )= 6 +7
+1 ( − 4)

From the table of transforms, we have x(n) = 6 sin(nπ/2)+7 nu(n)

3) Extract x(n) from ( ) = .

Solution:

( )=
− 1.2 + 1
( )
= ( ) ( )

By Coefficient matching - 2 cos(a) = -1.2

so cos(a) = 0.6, or a = 53ᵒ.13.
Hence sin(a) sin(53.13) = 0.8.

1 0.8
∴ ( )=
0.8 − 1.2 + 1

( ° ) ( )
= .

INVERSE Z TRANSFORM BY PARTIAL FRACTION METHOD

TABLE

1) Partial fraction with first order real pole :

( )
= ( − ). →

∗
2) Partial fraction with first order complex pole : + ∗

( )
= ( − ). →

a* = complex conjugate of a, A* = complex conjugate of A

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 3) Partial fractions with mth order real poles : +( )
+( )
+ ⋯+ ( )

1 ( )
= ( − ) →
( − 1)!

1) Find inverse transform of Y(Z) = . ( )

( )
Solution: . = ( . )( )

Consider ( . )( )
=( . )
+( )

( )
= ( − 0.3) → 0.3

= → 0.3

.
=− .
= −0.429

( )
= ( − 1) →1

= .
→1

= .
= 1.428

( ) . .
. = +
( . ) ( )

Z-1(Y(z)) = (-0.428)(0.3)n u(n) + (1.428)(1)nu(n)

 0.01z 
2) Find Z 1  
 ( z  0.1)( z  0.2)( z  0.3) 

Solution:

0.01z
Y ( z)  ...................................................( 1)
( z  0.1)( z  0.2)( z  0.3)

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 Y ( z) 0.01

z ( z  0.1)( z  0.2)( z  0.3)

Resolving R.H.S into partial fractions,

0.01 A B C
  
( z  0.1)( z  0.2)( z  0.3) ( z  0.1) ( z  0.2) ( z  0.3)

0.01
=
(0.1 − 0.2)(0.1 − 0.3)

A = 0.5

0.01
=
(0.2 − 0.1)(0.2 − 0.3)

B = -1

0.01
=
(0.3 − 0.1)(0.3 − 0.2)

C = 0.5

Therefore we get,

0 .5 z z 0 .5 z
Y ( z)   
( z  0.1) ( z  0.2) ( z  0.3)

Taking Z inverse,

 z 
we know that, Z 1    a n
 ( z  a) 

y(n)= 0.5(0.1n )u (n)  (0.2 n )u (n)  0.5(0.3n )u (n)

z ( z  0.2)
3) Find {f(n)} by Partial Fraction method, if F ( z) 
( z  0.3) 2 ( z  0.5)

Solution:
F ( z) ( z  0.2)

z ( z  0.3) 2 ( z  0.5)

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 ( z  0 .2 ) A B C
=  
( z  0.3) ( z  0.5) ( z  0.5) ( z  0.3) ( z  0.3) 2
2

( )
= ( − 0.5) → 0.5

. .
= ( . . )

= 7.5

To find B and C we use the formula

( )
=( )!
( − ) → , where k =2 , m = 2.

1 ( − 0.2)
= = ( − 0.3) → 0.3
(2 − 1)! ( − 0.3) ( − 0.5)
( . )( . )
= ( . )
→ 0.3

B= -7.5

1 ( − 0.2)
= = ( − 0.3) → 0.3
(1 − 1)! ( − 0.3) ( − 0.5)
. .
= . .

C = -0.5

1=.0625(3.55)+.25B + 1.66

B= - 3.5275

7.5 z 7.5 z 0.5 z

F(Z)=  
( z  0.5) ( z  0.3) ( z  0.3) 2

{f(n)} = 7.5(0.5)  7.5(0.3)  0.5n(0.3) .

n n n

4) Obtain the inverse Z transform of ( ) = ( . )( . )

Solution:
( ) 1
=
( + 0.2)[ − (0.5 + 0.5)][ − (0.5 − 0.5)]

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 ∗
=
[ ( . )]
+[ ( .
+(
. . )] . )

( . ) ( )
= → −0.2

B = 0.74

( )
= [ − (0.5 + 0.5)] → (0.5 + 0.5)

= → (0.5 + 0.5)
( . )[ ( . . )]

=
(( . . ) . )[( . . ) ( . . )]

= 1.162∠ − 125.53

A*= conjugate of A = 1.162∠125.53

∗
x(n) = + ∗
+ 0.74 .
, where p = 0.5 + j0.5, p*=0.5 - j0.5

= 2|A||p|ncos(nθ + φ)u(n) + 0.74(-0.2)n u(n)

= 2.324(0.707)n cos(45ᵒn - 125.53ᵒ)u(n)

SOLUTION OF DIFFERENCE EQUATION BY Z TRANSFORM

An equation in the form of y(n) + a1y(n-1)+a2y(n-2) = f(n) is called finite difference equation. To
solve a difference equation with initial conditions, we have to deal with time-shifted sequence
such as y(n-1), y(n-2), ...y(n-m) and so on. Let us examine Z - Transform of these terms.

{ ( − 1)} = ∑ ( − 1)

= y(-1) + y(0)z-1 + y(1) z-2 + ...

= y(-1) + z-1[y(0) +y(1)z-1 + y(2)z-2 + ....]

= y(-1) + z-1Y(z)

Similarly Z{y(n-2)} = y(-2) +y(-1)z-1 + z-2Y(z).

If all initial conditions are zero then we have Z{y(n-m)} = z-mY(z)

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 Working Method to solve difference equation

1) Apply Z-Transform on both sides

2) Use the formula for Z{y(n-2)}, Z{Y(n-1)}
3) Apply initial conditions
4) Solve for the difference equation in Z-Transform domain
5) Find the solution in time domain by applying inverse transform.

Example 1) A digital signal processing system is described by the difference equation

y(n) + 0.5y(n-1) = 2 (0.8)nu(n). Determine the solution when the initial condition is y(-1) = 2.
Solution:
Take Z-Transform on both sides of the given equation. We get,
Z{y(n)} + 0.5Z{y(n-1)} = 2 Z-1 {(0.8)nu(n)}
i.e ( ) + 0.5[ (−1) + ( )] = − .

Applying boundary condition y(-1) = 2, we have

2
( ) + 0.5[2 + ( )] =
− 0.8
.
So, ( )[1 + 0.5 ] = −1 + =
. .

.
= .
.
.
∴ ( )=( . )( . )

( ) .
=( . )( . )
=( . )
+( . )
. . . .
= = 1.231, = = −0.231
. . . .

( ) . .
Hence = .
− .
So x(n) =1.231(0.8) u(n) -0.231(-0.5)n u(n)
n

Example 2)

Given the following difference equation with the input-output relationship of a certain initially
relaxed system(all initial conditions are zero)
y(n) - 0.7y(n-1) + 0.1y(n-2) = x(n) + x(n-1)
a) Find the impulse response sequence y(n) due to the impulse sequence δ(n).
b) Find the output response of the system when the unit step function u(n) is applied.
Solution:
Applying Z-Transform on both sides of the difference equation, we get

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 Y(z) -0.7Y(z)z-1 + 0.1Y(z)z-2 = X(z) + z-1X(z)
i.e, Y(z) [1 -0.7z-1 +0.1z-2] = X(z)[1 + z-1]
Applying impulse sequence δ(n),
Y(z)[1 - 0.7z-1 + 0.1z-2] = 1. (1 + z-1)
1+
∴ ( )=
1 − 0.7 + 0.1
= . [ . . ]
( )
=[ . . ]
( ) ( )
Hence =[ . . ]
( )
= [ . ][ . ]
= .
+ .

= .
z = 0.5, So A = 5

= = 0.2, So, B = -4
.

( ) 5 4
= −
− 0.5 − 0.2
x(n) = 5(0.5)n u(n) -4(0.2)n u(n)
b) To obtain the response due to unit step function, the input sequence is set to be x(n) = u(n) and
the corresponding Z -Transform is ( ) = .

On taking Z-Transform in the given equation, we get

Y(z) - 0.7Y(z)z-1 + 0.1Y(z)z-2 = X(z) + X(z) z-1 .
Then the Z-Transform of output sequence y(n) can be yielded as
1+
( )=
−1 1 − 0.7 + 0.1
( )
=
( )( . )( . )
( ) ( )
∴ = ( )( . )( . )
=( )
+( . )
+( . )
( )
Now = (
( −> 1) = 5
. )( . )

( + 1)
= ( −> 0.5) = −5
( − 0.1)( − 0.2)
( )
= (
( −> 0.2) = 1.
. )( . )

L E C T U LLECTURE
RE NOTES ON Z TRANSFORMS - BY Dr.V.GNANARAJ Page 23
 ( )
Hence =( )
−( . )
+( . )
5 5
( )= − +
( − 1) ( − 0.5) ( − 0.2)

On taking inverse transform, y(n) = 5u(n) - 5(0.5)n u(n) + (0.2)n u(n)

L E C T U LLECTURE
RE NOTES ON Z TRANSFORMS - BY Dr.V.GNANARAJ Page 24