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p238: 6.3.2 The Unit Step Function

The unit step function U(t-a) is defined such that it is 0 for t < a and 1 for t ≥ a. It can be used to "turn off" or "turn on" portions of other functions. Any piecewise function can be expressed as a single equation using unit step functions applied to each sub-function and then added together. This represents the function value over different intervals of t in a single unified expression.

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terrygoh
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570 views

p238: 6.3.2 The Unit Step Function

The unit step function U(t-a) is defined such that it is 0 for t < a and 1 for t ≥ a. It can be used to "turn off" or "turn on" portions of other functions. Any piecewise function can be expressed as a single equation using unit step functions applied to each sub-function and then added together. This represents the function value over different intervals of t in a single unified expression.

Uploaded by

terrygoh
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit Step Function

p238 : 6.3.2 The Unit Step Function

 The unit step function U(t-a) is defined :


 0 , 0t a
U  t  a  
 1, ta

1
Unit Step Function
 When a function f is multiplied by U(t-a), the unit
step function " turns OFF " the portion of the graph
of f from 0  t  a .

2
Unit Step Function
Example :
Given f  t   t  1 , then U  t  5 f  t  means that the
ONLY portion of f  t  from 0 t  5 is " turn OFF ".

3
Unit Step Function
 Another very useful unit step function is
U(t-a ) - U(t-b).
 1, at b
U  t  a  U  t  b  
 0, otherwise

4
Unit Step Function
 When a function f is multiplied by [U(t-a) - U(t-b)],
only the portion of the graph of f from a  t  b is
" turn ON ".

5
Unit Step Function
Example :
Given f  t   t  1 ,
then U  t  1  U  t  5  f  t 
means that ONLY the portion of f  t  from 0 t  5 is
" turn ON ".

6
Unit Step Function
 A piecewise function, f (t) is defined by different
sub-functions for different intervals of t.

Example 1 :

 t 5, 0  t 2

f  t     2t  11, 2  t 4 sub-function
 t 1 , 4  t 7

 0 otherwise

7
Unit Step Function
 Any piecewise function can be expressed as a single
equation by :
1. applying unit step function on each sub-function
2. add each result obtained from 1.

8
Unit Step Function
Example 2 : 
 t 5, 0  t2
Express piecewise function f  t  from example 1
f  t     2t  11, 2  t4
using unit step function.
 t 1 , 4  t 7

 0 otherwise
1. applying unit step function on each sub-function

For 0  t  2 , t  5   t  5 U  t   U  t  5 
For 2  t  4, 2t 11   2t 11 U  t  2  U  t  4  
For 4  t  7 , t 1   t 1 U  t  4   U  t  7  
For t  7 , 0
9
Unit Step Function
2. Add each result obtained from 1.
f  t    t  5  U  t   U  t  2   
 2t 11 U  t  2  U  t  4  
 t  1 U  t  4  U  t  7  

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