Homework 2 ESET 3302 Dr.

Geetha Chandrasekaran
(Due: Sep 21, 10:00 pm)

1. For each of the following LTI systems indicate whether or not the system is causal.

n
(a) h[n] = 12 u[n] , where u[n] is the unit step function.

Solution: Since h[n] = 0 for all n < 0, the impulse response is zero for all negative
values of n, this system is causal.

1 n


(b) h[n] = 2 u[n − 1]

Solution: Since h[n] = 0 for all n ≤ 0, the impulse response is zero for all negative
values of n, this system is causal.

1 |n|


(c) h[n] = 2

Solution: Since h[n] > 0 for all n < 0, the impulse response is non-zero for all
negative values of n. This system is not causal.

(d) h[n] = u[n + 2] − u[n − 2]

Solution: Since h[−2] = 1 > 0, the impulse response is non-zero for all negative
values of n = −2. This system is not causal.

1 n
+ 3n u[−n − 1]


(e) h[n] = 3 u[n]

Solution: Note that h[−1] = 13 . Since h[n] > 0 for all n < 0, the impulse response
is non-zero for all negative values of n. This system is not causal.

2. For each of the following LTI systems indicate whether

P or not the system is stable. Given an
impulse response h[n], the system is stable only if ∞
n=−∞ |h[n]| < ∞

(a) h[n] = 4n u[n]

Solution: Since ∞ 2 3
P
n=0 |h[n]| = 1 + 4 + 4 + 4 + · · · → ∞, the impulse response
is not absolutely integrable over time. This system is not stable.

(b) h[n] = u[n] − u[n − 10]

P∞
Solution: Since n=0 |h[n]| = 1 + 1 + · · · + 1 (10 times) → ∞, the impulse
response is not absolutely integrable over time. This system is stable.

(c) h[n] = 3n u[−n − 1]

Solution: For this
P problem a plot will be very helpful

to visualize the impulse
response. Since ∞ n = 1 + 1 2 + 1 3 +··· = 1 = 3 <
P−1

n=−∞ |h[n]| = n=−∞ 3 3 3 3 1− 1 2
3
∞, the impulse response is absolutely integrable over time, hence stable.

3 |n|


(d) h[n] = 4 cos(πn/4)

1
Homework 2 ESET 3302 Dr. Geetha Chandrasekaran
(Due: Sep 21, 10:00 pm)

Solution: For this

P problem a plot P∞will be nvery helpful to
visualize the impulse
3 2 3 3
response. Since ∞ 3
· · = 1−1 3 =


n=−∞ |h[n]| = n=0 (3/4) = 1 + 4 + 4 + 4 + ·
4

4 < ∞ and ∞ n = −1 + 1 + 3 + 3 2 + 3 3 + · · · =
P P−1


n=−∞ |h[n]| = n=−∞ (3/4) 4 4 4
−1 + 1−1 3 = 4 < ∞, the impulse response is absolutely integrable over time, hence
4
stable.

(e) h[n] = 2u[n + 5] − u[n] − u[n − 5]

2 h[n]

1.5

0.5

−6 −4 −2 2 4 6

Solution: For this Pproblem the plot above is very helpful to visualize the impulse
response. We have ∞ n=−∞ |h[n]| = 2 × 5 + 1 × 5 = 15 < ∞, the impulse response
is absolutely integrable over time, hence stable.

3. Consider the difference equation of a causal LTI system

1
y[n] + y[n − 1] = x[n − 1]
a
(a) Find the impulse response h[n], as a function of the constant a.

Solution: To find the impulse response set x[n] = δ[n] , then h[n] = y[n].

• Since x[n − 1] = 0, for all n < 1, y[n] = 0, ∀n < 1.

• y[1] = a1 y[0] + δ[0] = 1, since δ[0] = 1

• y[2] = a1 y[1] + δ[1] = 1

a × 1, = 1
since y[1] = 1
a

2
• y[3] = a1 y[2] + δ[2] = 1
a × a1 = a1 , since y[2] = a1

2
3 1 2
• y[4] = a1 y[3] + δ[2] = 1
× a1 = a1 , since y[3] =


a a

1 n−1
• Since y[n] = 0, ∀n < 1, we have the impulse response h[n] =


a u[n − 1]

2
Homework 2 ESET 3302 Dr. Geetha Chandrasekaran
(Due: Sep 21, 10:00 pm)

(b) For what range of values of a will the system be stable?

Solution: The impulse response is stable if ∞ 2

P
n=−∞ |h[n]| < ∞. For the given
n−1
impulse response, n=−∞ |h[n]|2 = ∞
P∞ P 1

1
n=1 a = 1−a , if a < 1. The system is
stable if a < 1.

4. (Convolution) Let the impulse response of a system be

h[n] = 2δ[n] + δ[n − 1].

Sketch the output of the system, if the input is x[n] = 2δ[n + 1] + 3δ[n] + 4δ[n − 1] + 5δ[n − 2].
(Hint: Plot the impulse response and input, then work on the convolution. You can always
cross validate your answer using MATLAB).
Solution : Convolution is commutative, y[n] = h[n] ∗ x[n] = x[n] ∗ h[n]

h[0] → contribution h[1] → contribution

10 5

8 4

6 3

4 2

2 1

−2 −1 1 2 3 4 −2 −1 1 2 3 4

y[n] = 4δ[n + 1] + 8δ[n] + 11δ[n − 1] + 14δ[n − 2] + 5δ[n − 3]

5. (DTFT ) Consider an LTI system defined by the following difference equation

y[n] = −2x[n] + 4x[n − 1] − 2x[n − 2]

(a) Determine the impulse response of this system

Solution: The impulse response is the output of the system when x[n] = δ[n]

h[n] = −2δ[n] + 4δ[n − 1] − 2δ[n − 2]

(b) Determine the frequency response of this system. Express your answer in the form

H(ejω ) = A(ejω )e−jωnd ,

3
Homework 2 ESET 3302 Dr. Geetha Chandrasekaran
(Due: Sep 21, 10:00 pm)

where A(ejω ) is a real function of ω. Explicitly specify A(ejω ) and the delay nd of this
system.
Solution: To find the DTFT we use the formula below:
∞
X
H(ejω ) = h[n]e−jωn
n=−∞

H(ejω ) = −2e−jω(0) + 4e−jω(1) − 2e−jω(2) = −2 + 4e−jω − 2e−j2ω

(c) Sketch a plot of the magnitude |H(ejω )| and the phase ∠H(ejω ).

Solution: See next page for plot.

Impulse response
4
2
0
-2
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Time
|H(ej )|

0
-pi -3pi/4 -pi/2 -pi/4 0 pi/4 pi/2 3pi/4 pi
(rad/sample)

2
H(ej )

0
-2
-pi -3pi/4 -pi/2 -pi/4 0 pi/4 pi/2 3pi/4 pi
(rad/sample)

(d) Suppose that the input to this system is

x1 [n] = 1 + ej0.5πn , −∞ < n < ∞,

determine the corresponding output y1 [n]. (Hint: Use the frequency response function)
Solution: DTFT of a constant 1 is a δ function at ω = 0, i.e., X ′ (ejω ) = 2πδ(ω).
• DTFT of ej0.5πn is a δ at ω = 0.5π , i.e., X ′′ (ejω ) = 2πδ(ω − 0.5π).
• Therefore, DTFT of x1 [n] is: X1 (ejω ) = 2πδ(ω) + 2πδ(ω − 0.5π)

4
Homework 2 ESET 3302 Dr. Geetha Chandrasekaran
(Due: Sep 21, 10:00 pm)

• Y (ejω ) = H(ejω )X(ejω ) = (−2 + 4e−jω − 2e−j2ω ) · (2πδ(ω) + 2πδ(ω − 0.5π))

Y (ejω ) = (−2 + 4e−jω − 2e−j2ω ) · 2πδ(ω) + (−2 + 4e−jω − 2e−j2ω ) · 2πδ(ω − 0.5π)

Evaluating at the delta functions:

Y (ejω ) = (−2+4e−j×0 −2e−j2×0 )·2πδ(ω)+(−2+4e−j0.5π −2e−j(2·0.5π) )·2πδ(ω−0.5π)

Simplifying the constants:

Y (ejω ) = 8πe−j0.5π δ(ω − 0.5π)

• Method 1: By definition, inverse DTFT of 8πe−j0.5π δ(ω − 0.5π)

Z π
1
x′ [n] = X ′ (ejω )ejωn dω
2π −π
Z π
1
= 8πe−j0.5π δ(ω − 0.5π)ejωn dω
2π −π
= 4e−j0.5π ejωn ω=0.5π
, since δ(ω − 0.5π) = 1, when ω = 0.5π
−j0.5π j0.5πn j0.5π(n−1)
= 4e e = 4e

DTFT
• Method 2: Recall the DTFT pair ejw0 n ←→ 2πδ(w − w0 ).
DTFT
Therefore, 8πe−j0.5π δ(ω − 0.5π) ←→ 4e−j0.5π ej0.5πn .
(e) Now, suppose that the input to this system is

x2 [n] = 1 + ej0.5πn u[n], −∞ < n < ∞,

determine the corresponding output y2 [n]. (Hint: Use the frequency response function)

Solution: The effect of u[n] is zero input for n < 0, which results in the output
being zero for n < 0. Therefore, the output y[n] for the input x[n] = (1 +
ej0.5πn )u[n] is: (
4ej0.5π(n−1) , for n ≥ 0
y[n] =
0, for n < 0