• A system is causal if the output at any time depends only on values of

the input at the present time and in the past.

• Is this circuit causal system?

Causal

3 Signals and Systems chapter 1 3

 • Are the following systems causal?

Yes they are causal Systems

4 Signals and Systems chapter 1 4

 • Are the following systems causal?

They are non causal systems

Remark: All memoryless systems are causal, since the output responds only to the current
value of the input.

5 Signals and Systems chapter 1 5

 • Is the following system causal?

• In this system, the output at any time t equals the input at the same time multiplied by
• a number that varies with time. Therefore, we can rewrite the equation as

• where g(t) is a time-varying function, namely g(t) = cos(t + 1). Thus, only the current value of
the input x(t) influences the current value of the output y(t), and we conclude that this system
is causal.

6 Signals and Systems chapter 1 6

 • A stable system is the one in which small inputs lead to responses that do not diverge.

Stable system

The input is the applied force x(t) and the output is the angular deviation y(t) from the vertical.
In this case, gravity applies a restoring force that tends to return the pendulum to the vertical
position, and frictional losses due to drag tend to slow it down.

7 Signals and Systems chapter 1 7

 • Example of unstable system

Unstable system

The effect of gravity is to apply a force that tends to increase the deviation from vertical. Thus,
a small applied force leads to a large vertical deflection causing the pendulum to topple over,
despite any retarding forces due to friction.

8 Signals and Systems chapter 1 8

 • Are the following systems stable?

y(n) +3

y(t) ( )
Stable Systems

y(t)

• Remarks: if the input to a stable system is bounded (i.e., if its magnitude does not grow
without bound), then the output must also be bounded and therefore can not diverge.

9 Signals and Systems chapter 1 9

 • Are the following systems stable?

y(n)

y(t)
Unstable Systems

y(t)

• Remarks: if the input to a unstable system is bounded (i.e., if its magnitude does not grow
without bound), then the output will be unbounded and therefore diverge.

10 Signals and Systems chapter 1 10

 • A system is time-invariant if the behavior and characteristics of the system are fixed over time.

• A system is time-invariant if a time shift in the input signal results in an identical time shift in
the output signal.

• In discrete-time, let us consider y[n] is the output when the input is x[n], a time-invariant
system will have y [n- n0] as the output when x [n- n0] is the input.

• In continuous time, let us consider y(t) is the output when the input is x(t), a time-invariant
system will have y (t- t0) as the output when x (t – t0) is the input.

11 Signals and Systems chapter 1 11

 • Are the following systems time-invariant?

y[n] +3

y(t) ( ) Time-Invariant
Systems
y(t)

12 Signals and Systems chapter 1 12

 • Are the following systems time-invariant?

y(n)

y(n) Time-varying
y(t)
Systems
(Not Time-Invariant)
y(t)

13 Signals and Systems chapter 1 13

 • A system is linear if an input consists of weighted sum of several signals is inserted, then its
output is the weighted sum of the responses of the system to each of the input signals.

• The system is linear if:

Additivity property

Homogeneity property

• Remark: a system can be linear without being time invariant, and it can be time invariant
without being linear.
14 Signals and Systems chapter 1 14
 • Are the following systems Linear?

y(n)

y(t) Linear
Systems
y(t)

15 Signals and Systems chapter 1 15

 • Are the following systems Linear?

y(n) +3

y(t) ( )

Non-Linear
y(t)
Systems
y(t)

16 Signals and Systems chapter 1 16

17 Signals and Systems chapter 1 17
18 Signals and Systems chapter 1 18
19 Signals and Systems chapter 1 19