WS 2023-24 Prof. Dr. B.

Lange SS II

Solutions for 2nd Exercises in signals and systems II

Exercise 5: The time-continuous signal

x(t) = cos(2πt) − cos(10πt)

is sampled with a frequency fs = 4 Hz. Sketch the spectra of both the time-
continuous and the sampled signal. Discuss your findings!
Solution: The spectrum of the time-continuous signal is
X(f )
1

0
f
−1
−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

The spectrum of the sampled signal (xn )n∈Z is zero for all frequencies because
the original and frequency-shifted components completely cancel:
Xs (f )
2

0
f
−1

−2
−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

This example illustrates that reconstruction of the original signal from the
samples is impossible if the sampling frequency is too low.

Exercise 6: A sine generator generates a sinusoidal signal at f = 9 kHz.

It is sampled with a sampling frequency fs = 8 kHz. The sampled signal is
then filtered by an (ideal) low-pass filter with cut-off frequency fc = 4 kHz
and finally output on a loudspeaker. Explain what frequency can be heard.
Solution: The spectrum of the time-continuous signal has the form
π
X(jω) = · (δ(ω − ω0 ) − δ(ω + ω0 )),
j

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WS 2023-24 Prof. Dr. B. Lange SS II

or, expressed with frequencies rather than angular frequencies,

π

X(jf ) = · δ(2πf − 2πf0 ) − δ(2πf + 2πf0 )
j
π
1

= · δ(f − f0 ) − δ(f + f0 ) = · δ(f − f0 ) − δ(f + f0 ) .
2πj 2j

The spectrum of the time-continuous signal can be sketched as follows (frequency

axis scaled in kHz):


ℑ X(f )
1

0
f
−1
−15 −10 −5 0 5 10 15

The spectrum of the sampled signal is

∞
X
Xs (jf ) = fs X(j · (f − kfs ))
k=−∞
∞
X 1

= fs · δ(f − kfs − f0 ) − δ(f − kfs + f0 ) .
k=−∞
2j

It can be sketched as follows (frequency axis again scaled in kHz):

ℑ X(f )
4
3
2
1
0
−1 f
−2
−3
−4
−15 −10 −5 0 5 10 15

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WS 2023-24 Prof. Dr. B. Lange SS II

An (ideal) low-pass filter with cut-off frequency fc = 4 kHz reduces it to

(frequency axis again scaled in kHz):


ℑ X(f )
4
3
2
1
0
−1 f
−2
−3
−4
−15 −10 −5 0 5 10 15

So only the frequency f = 1 kHz can be heard.

Exercise 7: Consider the following (real) spectrum X(jω).

X(jω)
2
1
−0
ω
−18 −15 −12 −9 −6 −3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18

a) The corresponding time signal x(t) is sampled with an angular sampling

frequency of ωs = 7 rad/s. Sketch the spectrum of the sampled signal (xk )k∈Z
and explain why there is no spectral overlap.
b) Examine whether the signal x(t) can be reconstructed from the sampled
signal (xk )k∈Z , and if yes, explain how.
Solution:
a) The spectrum of the signal sampled with ωs = 7 rad/s has the spectrum
∞
ωs X

Xs (jω) = X j(ω − kωs ) .
2π k=−∞

It can be sketched as follows:

X(jω)
2
1
−0
ω
−18 −15 −12 −9 −6 −3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18

There is no overlap in the spectrum since the bandwidth of the signal

17 rad/s − 15 rad/s = 2 rad/s

is less than half of the angular sampling frequency.

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WS 2023-24 Prof. Dr. B. Lange SS II

b) Since there is no overlap, rescaling of the spectrum by a factor of 2π 7

and then applying a customized band-pass filter with two pass-bands, from
−17 rad/s to −15 rad/s and from 15 rad/s to 17 rad/s, yields the original
spectrum. Inverse Fourier transform then results in the original time signal.

Exercise 8: The two (real) spectra X(jω) and Y (jω) of the two signals
x(t) and y(t) are sketched as follows:
X(jω) Y (jω)
2 2
1 1
0 0
ω ω
−3 0 3 −3 0 3
a) Determine and sketch the spectrum of the product signal z(t) = x(t) · y(t).
b) Can the product signal z(t) be reconstructed if it is sampled with an
angular sampling frequency of ωs = 5 rad/s?
Solution: a) The two spectra can be expressed using step functions
X(jω) = σ(ω + 1) − σ(ω − 1) and Y (jω) = σ(ω + 2) − σ(ω − 2).
The spectrum of the product z(t) = x(t)·y(t) of the signals is the convolution
of their spectra
1 1
Z(jω) = · X(jω) ∗ Y (jω) = · Y (jω) ∗ X(jω)
2π Z 2π
∞
1

= X j · (ω − Ω) · Y (jΩ) dΩ
2π −∞
Z ∞
1


= σ(ω + 1 − Ω) − σ(ω − 1 − Ω) · σ(Ω + 2) − σ(Ω − 2) dΩ
2π −∞
Z ∞
1
= σ(ω + 1 − Ω) · σ(Ω + 2) − σ(ω − 1 − Ω) · σ(Ω + 2)
2π −∞


− σ(ω + 1 − Ω) · σ(Ω − 2) + σ(ω − 1 − Ω) · σ(Ω − 2) dΩ
(∗) 1

= · σ(ω + 3) · (ω + 3) − σ(ω + 1) · (ω + 1) − σ(ω − 1) · (ω − 1) + σ(ω − 3) · (ω − 3)
2π
1

= · ρ(ω + 3) − ρ(ω + 1) − ρ(ω − 1) + ρ(ω − 3) .
2π
In the step marked with (∗),
Z ∞ Z b
′ ′ ′
σ(t − a) · σ(b − t ) dt = σ(b − a) · dt′
−∞ a
= σ(b − a) · (b − a)
= ρ(b − a)
was used as shown in lecture 4 of SS1. The sketch of this spectrum is:

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WS 2023-24 Prof. Dr. B. Lange SS II

Z(jω)
1

0
ω
−4 −2 0 2 4

b) Since the spectrum Z(jω) of the product function extends to ωc = 3 rad/s,

sampling with an angular sampling frequency of ωs = 5 rad/s < 2ωc violates
the sampling theorem. Thus, the original signal can not be reconstructed.

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