Signals & Systems

MT - 252
Lecture # 4: Properties of Signals
Dr. Hafiz Zia Ur Rehman
hafizzia@mail.au.edu.pk

Department of Mechatronics Engineering

Air University, Islamabad
 Properties of Signals
◼ Periodic Continuous Time Signals
◼ A periodic continuous-time signal 𝒙(𝒕) is defined as

x (t ) = x (t + T )
where 𝑇 is a positive number called the period.
◼ A typical example is that of a sinusoidal signal 𝒙(𝒕) = 𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝒕) for −∞ < 𝑡 < +∞. This
is shown in the figure below:

◼ For the above signal, the period is 𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅. It can be noticed that for any time 𝒕:

sin ( t + 2 ) = sin ( t ) , or
sin ( t + 2n ) = sin ( t ) , or nZ 2
 Digital Image Processing, 3rd ed.
Gonzalez & Woods
www.ImageProcessingPlace.c
Fundamentalom Period
➢ The period of a periodic signal isChapter 10
not unique i.e., a signal that is periodic with
period T is also periodic withImage Segmentation
period 𝑛𝑇, for every (strictly) positive integer 𝑛.

The fundamental period 𝑇0 of 𝑥 𝑡 is the smallest positive value

of 𝑇 for which the equation below is holds:

x (t ) = x (t + T )

➢ This definition of the fundamental period works, except if 𝒙 𝒕 is a constant. In this

case the fundamental period is undefined, since 𝒙 𝒕 is periodic for any choice of T
(so there is no smallest positive value).

What is fundamental period of the signal below?

© 1992–2008 R. C. Gonzalez & R. E. Woods

 Properties of Signals
◼ Periodic Discrete Time Signals
◼ Periodic signals are defined analogously in discrete time. Specifically, A
discrete-time signal 𝑥 𝑛 is periodic with period 𝑵, where 𝑵 is a positive
integer, if it is unchanged by a time-shift of 𝑵, i.e., if defined as

x  n = x  n + N 
for all values of 𝑛.

The fundamental period 𝑁0 of 𝑥 𝑛 is the smallest positive

value of 𝑁 for which the equation below is holds:

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 Digital Image Processing, 3rd ed.
Gonzalez & Woods

• Conditions for Periodicity

www.ImageProcessingPlace.c
of Signals
om
Chapter 10
– As signal is periodic, ifImage Segmentation
i. It must exist for −∞ < 𝑡 < ∞.
ii. It must repeat itself after some constant time interval called Fundamental
time period T.
iii. T must be a real value.
– A signal 𝒙(𝒕) that is not periodic will be referred to as an aperiodic signal.

Quick Revision
• Is it periodic?

Ans: No, as it does not repeat itself over every interval of length 2𝜋.

© 1992–2008 R. C. Gonzalez & R. E. Woods

 Properties of Signals
◼ Even and Odd signals
◼ A signal 𝒙(𝒕) or 𝒙[𝒏] is defined as an even signal if it is identical to its time-
reversed counterpart, i.e., with its reflection about the origin.
◼ Mathematically,

◼ Example:-

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 Properties of Signals
◼ Even and Odd signals
◼ A signal 𝒙(𝒕) or 𝒙[𝒏] is defined as an odd signal if,

◼ Example:-

◼ An odd signal must necessarily be 0 at t=0 odd

Even 7
 Properties of Signals
◼ Decomposition of a Function into Even and Odd Parts
◼ An important fact is that any signal (continuous-time or discrete-time) can be
broken into a sum of two signals,
➢ one is even and
➢ One (other) is odd.
x ( t ) = xe ( t ) + xo ( t )
x  n  = xe  n  + xo  n 

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 Properties of Signals
◼ Decomposition of a Function into Even and Odd Parts

◼ Example:-Determine and sketch the even and odd parts of the signals depicted
in figure below:

◼ Solution:-
𝑥 𝑡 +𝑥 −𝑡
➢ ℰ𝑣 𝑥 𝑡 = →
2

𝑥 𝑡 −𝑥 −𝑡
➢ 𝒪𝒹 𝑥 𝑡 = →
2

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 Properties of Signals
◼ Decomposition of a Function into Even and Odd Parts

◼ Example:- A discrete time signal 𝒙 𝒏 is given as

1 n  0
x  n = 
0 n  0

◼ Find even and odd part of 𝒙 𝒏 ?

𝑥 𝑛 +𝑥 −𝑛
➢ ℰ𝑣 𝑥 𝑛 = →
2

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 Properties of Signals
◼ Decomposition of a Function into Even and Odd Parts

◼ Example:- A discrete time signal 𝒙 𝒏 is given as

1 n  0
x  n = 
0 n  0

◼ Find even and odd part of 𝒙 𝒏 ?

𝑥 𝑛 −𝑥 −𝑛
➢ 𝒪𝒹 𝑥 𝑛 = →
2

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 Properties of Signals
◼ Even and Odd signals (Symmetry and Addition/Multiplication)
◼ Sums involving even and odd functions have the following properties:
➢ The sum of two even functions is even.
➢ The sum of two odd functions is odd.
➢ The sum of an even function and odd function is neither even nor odd, provided
that neither of the functions is identically zero.
➢ That is, the sum of functions with the same type of symmetry also has the same
type of symmetry.
◼ Products involving even and odd functions have the following properties:
➢ The product of two even functions is even.

➢ The product of two odd functions is even.

➢ The product of an even function and an odd function is odd.

➢ That is, the product of functions with the same type of symmetry is even,

while the product of functions with opposite types of symmetry is odd.

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Assignment Questions

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 Basic Signals
◼ Continuous-Time Complex Exponential
◼ A continuous-time complex signal 𝒙(𝒕) can be written as

x ( t ) = Ce at
where 𝑪 and 𝒂 are, in general, complex numbers.
◼ Real Exponential Signals: In this case both 𝑪 and 𝒂 are real numbers, and 𝒙(𝒕) is
called a real exponential.

Real Exponential Growing with a>0 Real Exponential Decaying with a<0
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 Basic Signals
◼ Periodic Complex Exponential
◼ Now, consider the case of complex exponentials where 𝒂 is purely imaginary. More,
specifically, we consider:
x ( t ) = e j0t
◼ An important property of this signal is that it is periodic. Let’s explore this:-
➢ By definition, 𝒙(𝒕) is periodic, if Using Euler’s relation
x (t ) = x (t + T ) , T  e j0T0 = cos (0T0 ) + j sin (0T0 ) ,
e j0T0 = 1
x ( t ) = e j0t ... (1) 0T0 = 2 k , kZ
x (t + T ) = e ... ( 2 )
j0 ( t +T )
cos (0T0 ) = 1, sin (0T0 ) = 0
0T0 = 2 , k =1
j0 ( t +T ) 2
e j0t = e  e j0t e j0T T0 =
0
➢ It follows that for periodicity eqs. (1) and (2) must be equal, i.e., we must have
2
e j0T0 = 1  T0 =
0 15
 Basic Signals
◼ Periodic Complex Exponential x ( t ) = e j0t ... (1)
◼ This equation (1) can be true,
➢ If, 𝝎𝟎 = 0, then 𝒙 𝒕 = 1, which is periodic for any value of 𝑻.

➢ If, 𝝎𝟎 ≠ 0, then the fundamental period 𝑻0 of 𝒙(𝒕), i.e. the smallest value of T for

which equation 𝒆𝒋𝝎° 𝑻 holds, is

2
T0 =
0

➢ Therefore, the signal 𝒙(𝒕) as given by equation 𝒆𝒋𝝎°𝑻 is always a periodic signal.
➢ Similarly, it can be shown (similar procedure as described in previous slide) that
the signal 𝒙(𝒕) = 𝒆−𝒋𝝎𝟎 𝒕 has the same fundamental period.
2
T0 =
0

➢ Thus, the signals 𝑒 𝑖𝝎0𝑡 and 𝑒 −𝑖𝝎0 𝑡 have the same fundamental period.
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 Basic Signals
◼ Periodic Sinusoidal signal
◼ A closely associated signal is the sinusoidal signal

x ( t ) = A cos (0t +  )

◼ Like the complex exponential signal, the sinusoidal signal is periodic with
fundamental period 𝑇0 given by eq. below:

2
T0 =
0

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 Basic Signals
◼ Periodic Sinusoidal signal
◼ Similarly, the sinusoidal signal of equation can be written as

x ( t ) = A cos (0t +  )
 e j (0t + ) + e − j (0t + ) 
x (t ) = A   cos ( x ) =
e jx + e − jx
 2
  2

A j  t + A − j  t +
x (t ) = e ( 0 ) + e ( 0 )
2 2
A A
x ( t ) = e j e j0t + e − j e − j0t
2 2

◼ It can be noted that the two exponentials in equation above have complex amplitudes.

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 Basic Signals
◼ Periodic Sinusoidal signal
◼ Alternatively, one can express a sinusoidal in terms of a complex exponential signal.
◼ If we define 𝕽𝓮 𝑪 as the real component of a complex number 𝑪, and 𝕴𝓶 𝑪 as the
imaginary part of 𝑪, then
 ( ) ,
A cos (0t +  ) = Ae e
j 0t +
e j = cos ( ) +j sin ( )

A sin ( t +  ) = Am e ( )
.
j 0t +
0

◼ The fundamental time period (derived previously) is given as

2
To = , 𝜔1

0
𝜔2
𝑇1
1 𝑇2
To 
0 𝜔3
𝑇3

◼ It is clear that the fundamental period 𝑻𝟎 of a continuous-time sinusoidal or a periodic

complex exponential signal, is inversely proportional to the |𝝎𝟎 | , which is called the
fundamental frequency. 19
 Digital Image Processing, 3rd ed.
Gonzalez & Woods
Period andomFrequency
www.ImageProcessingPlace.c

Chapter 10
Image Segmentation

𝜔1

𝜔2
𝑇1
𝑇2
𝑇3
𝜔3

© 1992–2008 R. C. Gonzalez & R. E. Woods

 Some Basic Signals
◼ Harmonics of a Periodic Complex Exponential
◼ We have noted that,
e j0t = 1
which implies that 𝝎𝑻𝟎 is a multiple of 2π, i.e.,

T0 = 2 k , where k = 0, 1, 2,

◼ This shows that 𝝎 must be an integer multiple of 𝝎𝟎 , i.e., the fundamental frequency.
◼ We can, therefore, write
k ( t ) = e jk t
0

◼ This is called the k-harmonic of the complex exponential signal.

◼ For 𝒌 = 0, 𝝓𝒌 (𝒕) is a constant, while for any other value of 𝒌 , 𝝓𝒌 (𝒕) is periodic with
fundamental frequency 𝒌 𝝎𝟎 and fundamental period
2 T 2
= 0. T0 =
k 0 k 21
0
 Acknowledgement
◼ The slides are prepared based on the following textbook:
◼ Chapter #1 (Art. 1.2.2, 1.3.1-2), signals & systems by Alan V. Oppenheim, S.
Hamid Nawab, 2nd edition, Pearson education - prentice hall
◼ Special thanks to
◼ Prof. Dr. Anwar M. Mirza,
◼ Prof. Dr. Abdul Wadood Abdul Waheed
◼ Prof. Dr. Muhammad Shehzad Hanif
◼ Prof. Dr. Michael D. Adams

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