Exercises Lecture Four: ENERGY & POWER

Exercises from Chapter 1

Exercise 1-33
First the sketch, then we will compute the energies.

(a) (b)

e−10
e−20
1 1

0
t t
1 2 0 15

(c) (d)

1
1

t t
2 1 2
−1
(see text)

Note that the cosine function (c) is just a sketch, we need 10 periods in the 2 s interval.

Further note that from the sketches we can already conclude that all signals have limited energy.
R∞ R∞ −1 −20t ∞ 1
(a) E= −∞
|x(t)|2 dt = 0
e−20t dt = 20 e |0 = 20 Joule.
R∞ R 15
(b) E= −∞
|x(t)|2 dt = 0
(1)2 dt = 15 Joule.
R2 1
R2
(c) E= 0
(cos(10πt))2 dt = 2 0
(1 + cos(20πt))dt = 21 (t + 1
20π sin(20πt))|20 = 1 Joule.
R1 R2
(d) E= 0
(t)2 dt + 1
(2 − t)2 dt = ( 13 t3 )|10 + (− 13 (2 − t)3 )|21 = 1
3 + 1
3 = 2
3 Joule.

Exercise 1-36
A2 1
(a)-(c) Here, all signals have amplitude A = 1, and their power is therefore just 2 = 2 Watt.

(d) xd (t) = xa (t) + xb (t), then is the power of xd (t) equal to the power of xa (t) plus the power of xb (t)?

1
RT 1 1 2
RT
P = lim (x2a (t) + x2b (t) + 2xa (t)xb (t))dt = + + lim xa (t)xb (t)dt
T →∞ 2T −T 2 2 T →∞ 2T −T

The latter integral contains a sine and cosine function that have a common base frequency (Exercise 1-9), so using
the orthogonality properties (Ziemer equation (3-13)) we can safely say that the integral on the right-hand side
equals zero. The sinusoids are harmonically related.

1
AE2235/AESB2020 Exercises Lecture Four (V1.1, May 2016) 2

Clearly then, we can add the powers, and the result is 1 Watt.

(e) Here: xe (t) = xa (t) + xc (t), and we get the same result as above, the powers of xa (t) and xc (t) can just
be summed, resulting in 1 Watt.

Exercise 1-37
A2 4
(a) P = 2 = 2 = 2 Watt.

A2 25
(b) P = 2 = 2 = 12.5 Watt.

A2 9
(c) P = 2 = 2 = 4.5 Watt.

(d) Signals (a) and (b) share the same fundamental frequency of 0.5 Hz, so their powers can just be summed:
P = 2 + 12.5 = 14.5 Watt.

(e) Same: P = 2 + 4.5 = 6.5 Watt.

(f) Same: P = 12.5 + 4.5 = 17 Watt.

Exercise 1-38
In questions like these, it is recommended to first make a sketch of the signal. Usually, from the sketch it becomes
automatically clear whether the signal is energy, power, or neither energy nor power.

(a) (b)
6 6

4 4

1 1
0
t 0
t
1 2 1 2

(f) (g)

1 1

0
t 0
t
1 2 1 2

(a) See the sketch: clearly, the signal attains a value 4 from t = 2 s until ∞. Its energy is thus infinite. We
can compute its average power, though, using:

1
RT
P = lim (x(t))2 dt, for a suitable time interval T . Note that, approximately, the signal has a value 0 for
T →∞ 2T −T
t < 0 and a value 4 for t > 0, since taking T to go to infinity makes the effects from t = 0 to t = 2 s negligable
(the signal is 4 for a much longer time than it is either 1 or 6). Hence, we get that the average power equals
(0 + 42 )/2 = 8 Watt. It is a power signal.
AE2235/AESB2020 Exercises Lecture Four (V1.1, May 2016) 3

(b) From the sketch we see that the signal has finite energy, and is therefore an energy signal. Its energy
equals E = (1)2 · 1 + (6)2 · 1 = 37 Joule.

(c) This signal has been treated in general form in Example 1-11: here with A = 1 and α = 5. It is an
2
energy signal with energy E = A 1
2α = 10 = 0.1 Joule.

(d) Here, x(t) = (e−5t + 1)u(t) = e−5t u(t) + u(t). The first part between parenthesis equals the signal
treated above and has limited energy. The second part, however, equals 1 from t = 0 to ∞, and its energy is
therefore unlimited. Hence, the signal is not an energy signal. Its average power is simply (1)2 /2 = 0.5 Watt as it
is zero for t < 0, and approximately 1 from t = 0 to ∞.

(e) Here, x(t) = (1 − e−5t )u(t), which is, as we have perhaps already recognized, the step response of a
first order low-pass filter (see Chapters 2 and 3 of Ziemer). x(t) → 1 when t becomes large, and is 0 for t < 0.
Hence, it has infinite energy, its average power is (just like above) 0.5 Watt.

(f) See the sketch. The unit ramp signal r(t) has infinite energy, as it goes on and on forever. It also has
infinite (average) power, because it does not stop at some constant level but, as we said, continues to grow forever.
Hence, r(t) is an example of a signal that is neither energy, nor power.

(g) See the sketch. Now, the unit ramp is ‘stopped’ in its growth by the subtraction of the second unit ramp,
at t = 1 s, and it keeps a constant value of 1. Clearly, it is not an energy signal, but a power signal. Its average
power is 0.5 Watt, just like in (d) and (e).

1
(h) Here, x(t) = t−1/4 u(t − 3) = √ 4 u(t − 3), we don’t really need a sketch to get a first idea of this lovely
t
signal. Just substitute some positive values of t (for t ≥ 3) into the equation to see that it will become smaller for
larger values of t. The rate at which it becomes smaller, however, is also decreasing rapidly. So, although clearly
for everyone that x(∞) = 0, the energy may still be very large, let’s compute it:
R∞ R∞ √
E = 3 (t−1/4 )2 dt = 3 t−1/2 dt = (2 t)|∞ 3 = ∞! Hence, it is not an energy signal. But it is not a power
signal either, because the average power equals zero. Here we have an example of a signal that is neither energy,
nor power, see also the footnote in Ziemer on page 29.

Exercise 1-39
Signal x(t) = 2 cos(6πt − π/3) + 4 sin(10πt).

(a) The signal is periodic when the two components have commensurable frequencies, that is, their frequen-
cies have a common factor. Here we have: x(t) = 2 cos(6πt − π/3) + 4 sin(10πt) = 2 cos(3(2π)t − π/3) +
4 sin(5(2π)t) = 2 cos(3(1)(2π)t − π/3) + 4 sin(5(1)(2π)t), so the common frequency f0 is 1 Hz, and the period
T0 = 1 s.

(b) Single-sided: x(t) = Re(2ej(6πt−π/3) ) + Re(4ej(10πt−π/2) ), see sketch.

4
|X| 6 X
2

3 5
f f
3 5
− π3
− π2
AE2235/AESB2020 Exercises Lecture Four (V1.1, May 2016) 4

(c) Double-sided: x(t) = 1ej(6πt−π/3) + 1e−j(6πt−π/3) + 2ej(10πt−π/2) + 2e−j(10πt−π/2) .

(d) See sketch.

|X|

f
−5 −3 3 5

6 X
π
2
π
3
3 5
f
−5 −3 − π3

− π2

(e) x(t) is a periodic signal, so its energy is infinite. Its average power can be computed by just taking the
sum of the amplitudes squared and then divide by 2: P = (22 + 42 )/2 = 20 2 = 10 Watt.

From the double-side amplitude-spectrum, we can also deduce the power: just square the magnitudes and sum
them up: 4 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 10 Watt.

Exercise 1-40
Let’s first make a sketch of the signals that are rather simple:

(a) (b)

1 1

t t
1 1 2 3

(d) (e)
1

2 2/3

t t
2 10
AE2235/AESB2020 Exercises Lecture Four (V1.1, May 2016) 5

R1
(a) From the sketch it is clear that this is an energy signal. Its energy is E = 0
(1)2 dt = 1 Joule.
R1 R2
(b) From the sketch it is clear that this is also an energy signal. Its energy is E = 0
(t)2 dt + 1
(1)2 dt +
R3
2
(3 − t) dt = 13 + 1 + 31 = 1 23 Joule.
2

(c) Here, sketching is not easy (well....). However, the signal is zero for t < 0 and also becomes zero for
t → ∞, so for the time-being let’s assume it is an energy signal. Let’s try to compute the energy:1
R∞ R∞ R ∞ 1 −4t
E = 0 (te−2t )2 dt = 0 t2 d(− 41 e−4t ) = (− 14 t2 e−4t )|∞
0 − 0 (− 4 R
e )2tdt
∞ ∞ 1 ∞
= 0 + 12 0 t(e−4t )dt = 21 0 td(− 41 e−4t ) = (− 81 te−4t )|∞ 1 −4t
R R
0 − 2 0 (− 4 e )dt
1 ∞ −4t 1 1 −4t ∞ 1
R
= 0 + 8 0 e dt = 8 (− 4 e )|0 = 32 Joule.

So, we get a finite value, and we are dealing (as expected) with an energy signal.

(d) From the sketch it is clear thatthis signal has infinite energy. Its average power can be computed as:
1
RT 1
R2 2 R∞
P = lim 2T −T
(x(t))2 dt = lim 2T 0
(t) dt + 2 (2)2 dt
T →∞ T →∞
1
= lim (( 13 t3 )|20 ) + lim 1
((4t)|∞
2 ) = lim 1
( 83 ) + lim 1
((4t|t=∞ − 8) = 0 + 2 = 2 Watt.
T →∞ 2T T →∞ 2T T →∞ 2T T →∞ 2T

Note that in the last step we made use of the fact that both T as well as the upper boundary of the integral go to ∞
at equal rate.

Further note that we can also compute the average power by just inspecting the sketch. The signal is zero for t < 0
and equals 2 for basically any value of t > 0, so we get 21 (2)2 = 2 Watt.

(e) Same story here. Clearly not an energy signal, see the sketch. Let’s first guesstimate the average power
by just looking at the sketch. The signal is zero for t < 0 and is equal to 32 for basically any value of t > 0, so we
get 12 ( 23 )2 = 29 Watt.
RT R R∞ 2 2 
1 2 1 10 2
Formally: P = lim 2T −T
(x(t)) dt = lim 2T 0
(1) dt + ( ) dt
10 3
T →∞ T →∞
1 1
= lim ((t)|10
0 ) + lim ((( 23 )2 t)|∞
10 ) = 0 +
14
= 2
Watt.
T →∞ 2T T →∞ 2T 29 9

Exercise 1-41
We will just look at questions (a)-(c) for each of the signals given.

(1) x(t) = cos(5πt) + sin(6πt). It is periodic when the two components share the same fundamental
frequency. We write: x(t) = cos(5πt) + sin(6πt) = cos(2.5(2πt)) + sin(3(2πt)) = cos(5(0.5)(2πt)) +
sin(6(0.5)(2πt)), we see that a common frequency exists: f0 = 0.5 Hz. Hence, the signal is periodic with
period T0 = 2 s.

Because it is a periodic signal, it cannot be an energy signal, as periodic signals go on forever and their energy
per period simply adds up to ∞. Being a sum of two sinusoidal signals with shared harmonics, the average power
2
(1)2
simply equals the summation of the components’ amplitudes squared: P = (1) 2 + 2 = 1 Watt.

(2) x(t) = sin(2t)+cos(πt). It is periodic when the two components share the same fundamental frequency.
We write: x(t) = sin(2t) + cos(πt) = sin( π1 (2πt)) + cos(0.5(2πt)). Clearly, there is no common frequency. The
period of the sine-component equals π s and the period of the cosine component equals 2 s. The ratio of the two
periods is not a rational number, so the signal is not periodic.

Let’s see if it is an energy signal. By just looking at the definition of x(t) we can see that integrating x2 (t) will
yield infinity, in fact both components (which are periodic) are power signals. Clearly then, this cannot be an
1
R b df (x) b
Rb dg(x)
Here we make use of the partial integration rule: dx
g(x)dx = f (x)g(x)|a − f (x) dx
dx
a a
AE2235/AESB2020 Exercises Lecture Four (V1.1, May 2016) 6

energy signal. Let’s try to compute the average power of x(t):

1
RT
P = lim (sin(2t) + cos(πt))2 dt
T →∞ 2T −T
RT RT RT
= lim 2T 1
−T
(sin2 (2t))dt + lim 2T 1
−T
1
(cos2 (πt))dt + lim 2T −T
(2 sin(2t) cos(πt))dt
T →∞ T →∞ T →∞
T
= 12 + 12 + lim 2T 2 1
R
−T 2
(sin((2 − π)t) + sin((2 + π)t))dt,
T →∞

where we note that the latter integral value is always smaller or equal than 1, so when dividing by 2T and taking
the limit T → ∞ the result will be zero.

Again, the power is just the summation of the two components, and equals 1 Watt.

1
(3) We recognize Example 1-11, with A = 1 and α = 10, it is an energy signal with E = 20 Joule.

(4) When sketching this signal it becomes readily clear that the signal continues to grow for larger values
of t. It is definitely not an energy signal, as its energy is infinite. It is also not a power signal, because the signal
does not converge to some non-zero constant value, but continues to increase. We are dealing with a signal that is
neither energy, nor power.

Exercise 1-43
Given the signal x(t) = sin2 (7πt − π/6) + cos(3πt − π/3).

Before we start to do anything, let’s get rid of the sin2 term in x(t). We simply use the rules from goniometry that:
sin2 (u) = 21 (1 − cos(2u)) and − cos(v) = cos(v − π).

So: sin2 (7πt − π/6) = 12 (1 − cos(14πt − π/3)), and we get for x(t):
x(t) = 12 + 12 cos(14πt − 4π/3) + cos(3πt − π/3).

(a) Single sided: x(t) = Re( 21 ej0 ) + Re( 21 ej(14πt−4π/3) ) + Re(ej(3πt−π/3) ). See sketch.

1 j0
(b) Double sided: x(t) = 2e + 14 ej(14πt−4π/3) + 41 e−j(14πt−4π/3) + 12 ej(3πt−π/3) ) + 21 e−j(3πt−π/3) ).
See sketch.
Single sided Double sided

|X| 1

1/2
1/2
1/4

f f
0 1.5 7 −7 −1.5 0 1.5 7

4π
3

6 X
π
0 1.5 7 3 1.5 7
0
f f
− π3 −7 −1.5
− π3

− 4π
3 − 4π
3
AE2235/AESB2020 Exercises Lecture Four (V1.1, May 2016) 7

Exercise 1-45
Given the signal x(t) = 16 cos(20πt + π/4) + 6 cos(30πt + π/6) + 4 cos(40πt + π/3).

(a) To find the Power Spectrum, we first find the double-sided amplitude spectrum. In case of x(t), the
double-sided amplitude spectrum can be easily found by first writing x(t) as the sum of complex conjugate rotat-
ing phasors:

x(t) = 8ej(10(2πt)+π/4) + 8e−j(10(2πt)+π/4) + 3ej(15(2πt)+π/6) + 3e−j(15(2πt)+π/6)

+2ej(20(2πt)+π/3) + 2e−j(20(2πt)+π/3) .

Now lets first draw the amplitude spectrum (and note that for determining the power spectrum the phase informa-
tion is not used!).

|X|
8 8

3 3

2 2

f
−20 −15 −10 10 15 20

We then take each line of the amplitude spectrum, we square its value and multiply it with a unit impulse function
located at that particular frequency (see Ziemer pages 30-31).

S(f )
64 64
60

40

20
9 9
4 4

f
−20 −15 −10 10 15 20

12 to 22 12 to 22

The total signal power equals P = 2(4 + 9 + 64) = 154 Watt.

(b) The power of signal x(t) contained in the interval between 12 and 22 Hz can be detected from the power
spectrum: P12 to 22Hz = 4 + 9 + 9 + 4 = 26 Watt.

Similarly, the power between 3 and 9 Hz is 0 Watt, and the power between 9 and 11 Hz equals 128 Watt.
AE2235/AESB2020 Exercises Lecture Four (V1.1, May 2016) 8

Exercises from Chapter 4

Exercise 4-11
Note that the energy spectral densities follow from the Fourier transforms, which have been computed in Exercise
4-1. Using (4-15) we get: G(f ) = |X(f )|2 , so plotting the energy spectral density means that we are simply
plotting the squared amplitude spectrum of a signal.

From Exercise 4-1 we know that:

Xa (f ) = A ,
α + j2πf
Xb (f ) = A ,
α − j2πf
Xc (f ) = 2 2Aα , and
α + (2πf )2
−j4πf A
Xd (f ) = 2 .
α + (2πf )2
From these, the energy spectra can be derived as follows:
p 2
Ga (f ) = |Xa (f )|2 = (Re(Xa (f )))2 + (Im(Xa (f )))2 = (Re(Xa (f )))2 + (Im(Xa (f )))2 , with

A A α − j2πf −A2πf
Xa (f ) = = = 2 Aα 2 + j 2
α + j2πf α + j2πf α − j2πf α + (2πf ) α + (2πf )2
= Re(Xa (f )) + jIm(Xa (f )), so
2 2
A2 (α2 + (2πf )2 )
 
Ga (f ) = |Xa (f )|2 = Aα +
−A2πf
= A2
2 2 = 2 .
α2 + (2πf )2 α2 + (2πf )2 2
(α + (2πf ) ) α + (2πf )2
Similarly, it can be shown that (and it is recommended to check these results at home):

Gb (f ) = A2 = Ga (f ).
α + (2πf )2
2

(2Aα)2
Gc (f ) = 2 .
(α + (2πf )2 )2
(4Aπf )2
Gd (f ) = 2 .
(α + (2πf )2 )2
We see that all energy spectra are real and even. The sketches are shown below, computed using MATLAB for
2
4A2 α2
A = 2 and α = 3. It can be easily shown that, for f = 0, Ga (0) = Gb (0) = A 4
α2 = 9 , Gc (0) = α4 = 16
9 , and
Gd (0) = 0. Similarly, for f → ∞, Ga (∞) = Gb (∞) = Gc (∞) = Gd (∞) = 0.

On a linear scale, the energy spectral densities look as follows:

AE2235/AESB2020 Exercises Lecture Four (V1.1, May 2016) 9

0.5 0.5

0.4 0.4

Ga (f )

Gb (f )
0.3 0.3

0.2 0.2

0.1 0.1

0 0
−10 −5 0 5 10 −10 −5 0 5 10
f f

2 0.5

0.4
1.5

Gd (f )
Gc (f )

0.3
1
0.2

0.5
0.1

0 0
−10 −5 0 5 10 −10 −5 0 5 10
f f

On a logarithmic scale, and showing only the positive frequencies, the energy spectral densities look as follows:
0 0
10 10
log Ga (f )

log Gb (f )

−5 −5
10 10

−10 −10
10 10

−15 −15
10 10
−2 0 2 −2 0 2
10 10 10 10 10 10
log f log f
5 0
10 10
log Gd (f )
log Gc (f )

0
10

−5
10

−10 −5
10 10
−2 0 2 −2 0 2
10 10 10 10 10 10
log f log f

Exercise 4-12
2
(a) In Exercise 4-11 we have shown that Xa (f ) = A , and that Ga (f ) = 2 A . Now we
α + j2πf α + (2πf )2
are asked to compute the energy contained in xa (t) for frequencies |f | < α/π. We get:
α/π α/π
E=
R A2 df , an even function, so: E = 2A2
R 1 df .
−α/π α + (2πf )2
2
0 α2 + (2πf )2
AE2235/AESB2020 Exercises Lecture Four (V1.1, May 2016) 10

From Almering tables (a selection of which will be provided at the examination):

R 1 dx = 1
arctan( ab x)
a 2 + b2 x 2 ab

Here we have a = α and b = 2π, so we obtain:

 
1 α/π
E = 2A2 α2π arctan( 2π
α f )| 0
1 1

 A2 
= 2A2 ( 2απ arctan(2)) − ( 2απ arctan(0)) = απ arctan(2).

α
(b) Is similar as (a), but now we are supposed to compute the energy of the signal up to frequencies |f | < 2π .
It can be shown that the energy equals:

1 2A2 π A2
E = 2A2 α2π arctan(1) = α2π 4 = 4α .

The total energy in the signal can be computed as well, by just taking the upper integral limit ∞, yielding:

1 2A2 π A2
Etotal = 2A2 α2π arctan(∞) = α2π 2 = 2α .

A2
The percentage of energy in (b) is therefore 4α
A2
= 50%.
2α

A2
arctan(2)
And, similarly, the energy in (a) as a percentage of total energy: απ
A2
= 70, 48%.
2α

Exercise 4-14
Unlike what is stated in an earlier version of the slides on lecture 4, this exercise is not part of the examination. A
proof will be provided later.