“JUST THE MATHS”

UNIT NUMBER

16.9

Z-TRANSFORMS 2
(Inverse Z-Transforms)

by

A.J.Hobson

16.9.1 The use of partial fractions

16.9.2 Exercises
16.9.3 Answers to exercises
UNIT 16.9 - Z TRANSFORMS 2

INVERSE Z - TRANSFORMS

16.9.1 THE USE OF PARTIAL FRACTIONS

When solving linear difference equations by means of Z-Transforms, it is necessary to be able

to determine a sequence, {un }, of numbers, whose Z-Transform is a known function, F (z),
of z. Such a sequence is called the “inverse Z-Transform of F (z)” and may be denoted
by Z−1 [F (z)].

For simple difference equations, the function F (z) turns out to be a rational function of
z, and the method of partial fractions may be used to determine the corresponding inverse
Z-Transform.

EXAMPLES

1. Determine the inverse Z-Transform of the function

10z(z + 5)
F (z) ≡ .
(z − 1)(z − 2)(z + 3)
Solution
Bearing in mind that
z
Z{an } = ,
z−a
for any non-zero constant, a, we shall write
" #
10(z + 5)
F (z) ≡ z. ,
(z − 1)(z − 2)(z + 3)
which gives
−15 14 1
 
F (z) ≡ z. + +
z−1 z−2 z+3
or
z z z
F (z) ≡ + 14 − 15 .
z+3 z−2 z−1
Hence,

Z−1 [F (z)] = {(−3)n + 14(2)n − 15} .

1
2. Determine the Inverse Z-Transform of the function
1
F (z) ≡ .
z−a

Solution
In this example, there is no factor, z, in the function F (z) and we shall see that it is
necessary to make use of the first shifting theorem.
First, we may write

1 z
 
F (z) ≡
z z−a

and, since the inverse Z-Transform of the expression inside the brackets is an , the first
shifting theorem tells us that

−1
Z [F (z)] = 0 when n = 0;
an−1 when n > 0.
Note:
This may now be taken as a standard result.
3. Determine the inverse Z-Transform of the function

4(2z + 1)
F (z) ≡ .
(z + 1)(z − 3)

Solution
Expressing F (z) in partial fractions, we obtain

1 7
F (z) ≡ + .
z + 1 (z − 3)

Hence,

0 when n = 0;

Z−1 [F (z)] =
(−1)n−1 + 7.(3)n−1 when n > 0.

2
16.9.2 EXERCISES

1. Determine the inverse Z-Transforms of each of the following functions, F (z):

(a)
z
F (z) ≡ ;
z−1
(b)
z
F (z) ≡ ;
z+1
(c)
2z
F (z) ≡ ;
2z − 1
(d)
z
F (z) ≡ ;
3z + 1
(e)
z
F (z) ≡ ;
(z − 1)(z + 2)
(f)
z
F (z) ≡ ;
(2z + 1)(z − 3)
(g)
z2
F (z) ≡ .
(2z + 1)(z − 1)
2. Determine the inverse Z-Transform of each of the following functions, F (z), and list the
first five terms of the sequence obtained:
(a)
1
F (z) ≡ ;
z−1
(b)
z+2
F (z) ≡ ;
z+1

3
 (c)
z−3
F (z) ≡ ;
(z − 1)(z − 2)

(d)
2z 2 − 7z + 7
F (z) ≡ .
(z − 1)2 (z − 2)

16.9.3 ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

1. (a)

Z−1 [F (z)] = {1}

(b)

Z−1 [F (z)] = {(−1)n }

(c)
 n 
−1 1
Z [F (z)] = ;
2
(d)
n 
1 1
 
−1
Z [F (z)] = − ;
3 3
(e)
1
 
−1
Z [F (z)] = [1 − (−2)n ] ;
3
(f)
n 
1 1
  
−1
Z [F (z)] = (3)n − − ;
7 2
(g)
n 
1 1 1
 
−1
Z [F (z)] = + − .
3 6 2

4
2. (a)
0 when n = 0;

−1
Z [F (z)] =
1 when n > 0;
The first five terms are 0,1,1,1,1
(b)
1 when n = 0;

−1
Z [F (z)] =
(−1)n−1 when n > 0.
The first five terms are 1,1,−1,1,−1
(c)
0 when n = 0;

−1
Z [F (z)] =
2 − (2)n−1 when n > 0.
The first five terms are 0,1,0,−2,−6
(d)
0 when n = 0;

−1
Z [F (z] =
3 − 2n + (2)n−1 when n > 0.
The first five terms are 0,2,1,1,3