EE 220: Signals, Systems & Networks

Tutorial-3
Properties of Convolution
Q. 1:
Consider an LTI system with impulse response h[n] = u[n]. Derive h1 [n], which is inverse
of h[n]. Also vrify the same by deriving h[n] h1 [n].
Sol. 1:
The response of the system h[n] = u[n] to an arbitrary input x[n] is:

y[n] =
=
=

k=
n
X

k=
n1
X

x[k]u[n k]
x[k]

x[k] + x[n]

k=

= y[n 1] + x[n]
x[n] = y[n] y[n 1]
Where x[n] is the response of the inverse system. To derive impulse response (h1 [n]) of the
inverse system, let us consider x[n] = [n]

h1 [n] = [n] [n 1]
To verify that h[n] and h[n] are impulse responses of LTI system that are inverses to each
other,

h1 [n] h[ n] = u[n] [n] [n 1]

= u[n] [n] u[n] [n 1]
= u[n] u[n 1]
= [n]
Q. 2: By giving a counter example, find whether the following statement is true or false

The inverse of a causal LTI system is always causal

Sol. 2:
Let us consider the impulse response of a causal LTI system h[n] = [n k]. Let x[n]
arbitrary input to the LTI system h[n], then

y[n] =

in
f ty
X

x[m]h[n m]

m=

= x[m][n m k]
= x[n k]
x[n] = y[n k]
(1)
where x[n] is the response of the inverse system. To derive impulse response of the inverse
system, consider y[n] = [n]

Therefore, h1 [n] = [n + k]
h1 [n] is the impulse response of inverse LTI system of h[n].
When k > 0, output of the inverse system depends on future value of input, hence h1 [n] is
impulse response of a non-causal system. Therefore, the statement is false
Q. 1: State whether the following statements are true or not. If true then provide reasonings
and if not show with counter examples.
(a) A continuous-time LTI system is stable if and only if its step response s(t) is absolutely
integrable, i.e.,
R +
s(t)dt <

(b) A discrete-time LTI system is causal if and only if its step response s[n] is zero for n < 0.
Sol. 1: (a) The given statement is not true.
Suppose h(t) = et u(t). Then

R +
t
t
e u(t) dt = (e ) = 1

and thus it is stable.

The step response is,

R +

u(t )e u()d

Rt
e d
0

= (1 et )u(t)
R +
(1 et ) dt
0
= (t + et )
Now,

Hence, the given statement is not true.

Sol. 1: (b) The given statement is true.

We know that,

P
u[n] =
[n k]
k=0

From superposition,

P
s[n] =
h[n k]
k=0

If s[n] , 0, for some n < 0, there exists some value of h[k] , 0 for some k < 0.

If s[n] = 0 for all n < 0, h[k] = 0 for all k < 0.

Q. 2: Consider cascade of two systems G and H as shown in the Figure 1.

Figure 1:

(a) If H and G are both LTI causal systems, prove that the overall system is causal.
(b) If H and G are both stable systems, show that the overall system is stable.
Sol. 2: (a)
The convolution of the two systems is given by,

h(t) g(t) =
=

R +
0

R +

h(t )g() d

h(t )g() d

as h(t) = 0 for t < 0

and g(t) = 0 for t < 0.

But if t < 0, this integral is obviously zero. Therefore the cascaded system is causal.
(b) By the definition of stability we know that for any bounded input to H, the output of H
is also bounded.
This output is also the input to system G.

Since the input to G is bounded and G is stable, the output of G is bounded.

Therefore, a bounded input to the cascaded system produces a bounded output. Hence, this
system is stable.
Q. 3: Find the necessary and sufficient condition on the impulse response h[n] such that for
any input x[n],
max {|x[n]|} > max {|y[n]|}, where, y[n] = x[n] h[n]
Sol. 3:
We are given that,
y[n] = x[n] h[n]

P
=> y[n] =
x[n k]h[k]
k=

Thus, 


  P


y[n] = 
x[n k]h[k]
k=

)
(



 P




=> max y[n] = max 
x[n k]h[k]
k=


P
max
|x[n k]| |h[k]|

k=

max {|x[n k]|} |h[k]|

k=

= max {|x[n]|}

|h[k]|

k=

Thus, we can see from the inequality




P
max y[n] max {|x[n]|}
|h[k]|
that

k=

|h[k]| 1 is a sufficient condition.

k=

It is necessary because some x[n] always exists that yields y[n] =

Therefore since max{x[n]} = 1, it is necessary that
y[n] max{|x[n]|}

k=

|h[k]|.

k=

|h[k]| 1 to ensure that,