Electrical Engineering Department

Dr. Yasmine Zaghloul

Winter 2023

Signals and Systems

Sheet (1) – Solution

Problem 1:
For each of the following signals, determine whether it is even, odd, or neither:

Solution:

Recall that: A signal is even if and only if 𝒙(𝒕) = 𝒙(−𝒕) or 𝒙[𝒏] = 𝒙[−𝒏],
while a signal is odd if and only if 𝒙(𝒕) = −𝒙(−𝒕) or 𝒙[𝒏] = −𝒙[−𝒏]

(a) Since 𝑥(𝑡) is symmetric about 𝑡 = 0 (𝑦 − axis), then 𝑥(𝑡) is even.

(b) It is readily seen that 𝑥(𝑡) ≠ 𝑥(−𝑡) for all 𝑡, and 𝑥(𝑡) ≠ −𝑥(−𝑡) for all 𝑡; thus 𝑥(𝑡) is neither
even nor odd.

(c) Since 𝑥(𝑡) = −𝑥(−𝑡), then 𝑥(𝑡) is odd.

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(d) Here 𝑥[𝑛] seems to be an odd signal at first glance. However, note that 𝑥[𝑛] = −𝑥[−𝑛]
evaluated at 𝑛 = 0 implies that 𝑥[0] = −𝑥[0]. But in this signal, 𝑥[0] = 1 and −𝑥[0] = −1, so
𝑥[0] ≠ −𝑥[0]. The signal is therefore neither even nor odd. The analogous result also applies to
continuous-time signals as in discrete-time signals.

Problem 2:
Find the even and odd parts of the following signals:

1
(a) 𝑥(𝑡) = sin ( 𝑡) (b) 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑒 𝑗4𝑡
2

Solution:

1
(𝐚) 𝑥(𝑡) = sin ( 𝑡)
2
1 1 1 −1 1 1 1
𝐄𝐯{𝒙(𝒕)} = [𝑥(𝑡) + 𝑥(−𝑡)] = [sin ( 𝑡) + sin ( 𝑡)] = [sin ( 𝑡) − sin ( 𝑡)] = 0
2 2 2 2 2 2 2

1 1 1 −1 1 1 1 1
𝐎𝐝{𝒙(𝒕)} = [𝑥(𝑡) − 𝑥(−𝑡)] = [sin ( 𝑡) − sin ( 𝑡)] = [sin ( 𝑡) + sin ( 𝑡)] = sin ( 𝑡)
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

(𝐛) 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑒 𝑗4𝑡

1 1
𝐄𝐯{𝒙(𝒕)} = [𝑥(𝑡) + 𝑥(−𝑡)] = [𝑒 𝑗4𝑡 + 𝑒 −𝑗4𝑡 ] = 𝑐𝑜𝑠(4𝑡)
2 2
1 1
𝐎𝐝{𝒙(𝒕)} = [𝑥(𝑡) − 𝑥(−𝑡)] = [𝑒 𝑗4𝑡 − 𝑒 −𝑗4𝑡 ] = 𝑗 sin(4𝑡)
2 2

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭:
𝟏 𝒋𝜽
𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝜽) = (𝒆 + 𝒆−𝒋𝜽 )
𝟐
𝟏
𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝜽) = (𝒆𝒋𝜽 − 𝒆−𝒋𝜽 )
𝟐𝒋

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Problem 3:
A continuous-time signal 𝑥(𝑡) is shown below. Sketch and label carefully each of the following
signals:
(a) 𝑥(𝑡 − 1) (b) 𝑥(2 − 𝑡) (c) 𝑥(2𝑡 + 1)
𝑡
(d) 𝑥 (4 − )
2

Solution:

(𝐚) 𝑥(𝑡 − 1)

(𝐛) 𝑥(2 − 𝑡)

(𝐜) 𝑥(2𝑡 + 1)

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 𝑡
(𝐝) 𝑥 (4 − )
2

Problem 4:
For the following figure, sketch:
(i) 𝑥(−𝑡)

(ii) 𝑥(𝑡 + 2)

(iii) 𝑥(2𝑡 + 2)

(iv) 𝑥(1 − 3𝑡)

Solution:

(i) This is just a time reversal and the amplitude remains the same.

(ii) This is a shift in time, where it is shifted 2 units to the left.

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(iii) A time shift occurs first by 2 units to the left, then scaled (shrink/compression) by a factor of 2.

(iv) All three effects are combined by the following order:

1. A time shift occurs first by 1 unit.
2. Time scaling (shrink/compression) by a factor of 3.
3. Time reversal.

Problem 5:
For each of the following signals, determine whether it is periodic or aperiodic. If periodic, find the
fundamental period.

(a) 𝑥(𝑡) = 1 + cos(4𝑡 + 1)

(b) 𝑥(𝑡) = 2 cos(4𝜋𝑡) + 3 sin(3𝜋𝑡)

(c) 𝑥(𝑡) = 2 cos(4𝜋𝑡) + 3 sin(10𝑡)

(d) 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑒 2𝑡
𝜋
𝑗(5𝑡+ )
2
(e) 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑒

(f) 𝑥[𝑛] = 𝑢[𝑛] + 𝑢[−𝑛]

(g) 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑒 𝑗𝑡+𝜋 𝑢(𝑡)



(h) 𝑥[𝑛] = ∑ 𝛿[𝑛 − 4𝑘] − 𝛿[𝑛 − 1 − 4𝑘]

𝑘=−

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Solution:
2𝜋 𝜋
(𝐚) It is periodic ⟹ 𝑇 = =
4 2

(𝐛) Let 𝑥1 (𝑡) = 2 cos(4𝜋𝑡) and 𝑥2 (𝑡) = 3 sin(3𝜋𝑡)

2𝜋 1 2𝜋 2
⟹ 𝑇1 = = and 𝑇2 = =
4𝜋 2 3𝜋 3
𝑇1 3
Since, the ratio = is a rational number. Hence, 𝑥(𝑡) is 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐜 signal.
𝑇2 4
The fundamental period 𝑻 of the signal 𝑥(𝑡) is 𝑇 = 4𝑇1 = 3𝑇2 = 2 seconds.

1 2
Or, LCM{𝑇1 , 𝑇2 } = LCM { , } = 2 seconds
2 3

(𝐜) Let 𝑥1 (𝑡) = 2 cos(4𝜋𝑡) and 𝑥2 (𝑡) = 3 sin(10𝑡)

2𝜋 1 2𝜋 𝜋
⟹ 𝑇1 = = and 𝑇2 = =
4𝜋 2 10 5
𝑇1 5
Since, the ratio = is not a rational number. Hence, 𝑥(𝑡) is 𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐜 signal.
𝑇2 2𝜋

(𝐝) It is 𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐜

2𝜋
(𝐞) It is 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐜 ⟹ 𝑇 =
5

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(𝐟) 𝑥[𝑛] = 𝑢[𝑛] + 𝑢[−𝑛] =

Hence, the signal is aperiodic because 𝑥(0) = 2 is not periodic.

(𝐠) For periodicity, 𝒙(𝒕) = 𝒙(𝒕 + 𝑻)

𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑒 𝑗𝑡+𝜋 𝑢(𝑡)

𝑥(𝑡 + 𝑇) = 𝑒 𝑗(𝑡+𝑇)+𝜋 𝑢(𝑡 + 𝑇) = 𝑒 𝑗𝑡+𝜋 𝑒 𝑗𝑇 𝑢(𝑡 + 𝑇)

In order for it to be periodic, two conditions should be satisfied:

𝒋𝑻
𝒆 = 𝟏 and 𝒖(𝒕) = 𝒖(𝒕 + 𝑻)

Since, both conditions cannot be satisfied. Then, this signal is aperiodic.

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(𝐡) Break up the summation by substituting different “𝑘”, for example at 𝑘 = 0, 𝑘 = 1, 𝑘 = 2, etc..
At 𝑘 = 0 → 𝑥[𝑛] = 𝛿[𝑛] − 𝛿[𝑛 − 1]
At 𝑘 = 1 → 𝑥[𝑛] = 𝛿[𝑛 − 4] − 𝛿[𝑛 − 5]
At 𝑘 = 2 → 𝑥[𝑛] = 𝛿[𝑛 − 8] − 𝛿[𝑛 − 9]
And so on….
By sketching it below, we find that the signal is periodic with a period of 𝑇 = 4

Problem 6:
Consider a signal 𝑥(𝑡) the has the property: 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑥(𝑡 + 5)
The signal is plotted below in the interval [−1, 1].
What is the value of the signal at:
(i) 𝑡 = 3
(ii) 𝑡 = −5.2
(iii) 𝑡 = 1003.6

Solution:

Note that the signal is periodic with 𝑇 = 5, so it repeats itself every 5 units.

(𝐢) 𝑥(3) = 0
(𝐢𝐢) 𝑥(−5.2) = 1
(𝐢𝐢𝐢) 𝑥(1003.6) = 0

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Problem 7:
Consider the following discrete time signal:

(i) Express the signal using the impulse response function

(ii) Express the signal using the unit step function

Solution:

(𝐢) 𝑦[𝑛] = 𝛿[𝑛 − 2] + 𝛿[𝑛 − 3] + 𝛿[𝑛 − 4]

(𝐢𝐢) 𝑦[𝑛] = 𝑢[𝑛 − 2] − 𝑢[𝑛 − 5]

Problem 8:
Sketch the following signals:

(𝐢) 𝑥[𝑛] = 𝑢[𝑛] − 𝑢[𝑛 − 5]

(𝐢𝐢) 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑒 −5𝑡 𝑢(𝑡 + 2)