Causality

Value of Input Signal from Example Causality

Past 𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑆{𝑥(𝑡)} = 2𝑥(𝑡 − 1)
Present 𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑆{𝑥(𝑡)} = [𝑥(𝑡)]2 Causal
Past+Present 𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑆{𝑥(𝑡)} = 2𝑥(𝑡 − 1) + 𝑥(𝑡)
Past+Future 𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑆{𝑥(𝑡)} = 𝑥(𝑡 − 5) ∗ 𝑥(𝑡 + 2)
Present+Future 𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑆{𝑥(𝑡)} = tan[𝑥(𝑡)] + sin [𝑥(𝑡 + 6)] Non Causal
Past+Present+Future 𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑆{𝑥(𝑡)} = x(t) + x(t − 7) − x(t + 4)
Future 𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑆{𝑥(𝑡)} = 𝑒 𝑥(𝑡+1) Anti Causal

Memory

If the output depends only on the present value of input, the system is memoryless otherwise the
system is with memory.

BIBO Stability
If you can find at least one case where the output becomes infinity for a finite value of input
signal, the system is unstable, otherwise the system is stable.

Linearity

Additive: 𝑆{𝑥1 (𝑡) + 𝑥2 (𝑡)} = 𝑆{𝑥1 (𝑡)} + 𝑆{𝑥2 (𝑡)}

Homogeneous: 𝑆{𝑎𝑥1 (𝑡)} = 𝑎𝑆{𝑥1 (𝑡)}

Linear: both Additive and Homogeneous

Or

𝑆{𝑎𝑥1 (𝑡) + 𝑏𝑥2 (𝑡)} = 𝑎𝑆{𝑥1 (𝑡)} + 𝑏𝑆{𝑥2 (𝑡)}

Time Invariance

First, if the input is 𝑥(𝑡), the output is

𝑦1 (𝑡) = 𝑆{𝑥(𝑡)}

Then if the input is 𝑥(𝑡 − 𝑡0 )

𝑦2 (𝑡) = 𝑆{ 𝑥(𝑡 − 𝑡0 )}

Now shift the output 𝑦1 (𝑡) an amount 𝑡0 , and if 𝑦1 (𝑡 − 𝑡0 ) = 𝑦2 (𝑡), then the system is time
invariant otherwise time varying.