Homework 1 solutions ESET 3302 Dr.

Geetha Chandrasekaran
(Due: Sep 14, 10:00 pm)

1. Determine whether each of the following signals is periodic. If the signal is periodic, state it’s
period.

(a) x[n] = sin( πn

8 )

Solution: We know that the “sin” function is periodic over the interval [0, 2π] if
the argument has a multiplicative factor of π. Note that for N = 16, x[n + N ] =
x[n], therefore this is periodic with N = 16.

(b) x[n] = cos(3n)

Solution: For a signal to be periodic we need to find an integer N such that
x[n] = x[n + N ], that is
cos(3n) = cos(3n + N ). (1)

Note that cos(A+B) = cos A cos B−sin A sin B, so cos(3n+N ) = cos(3n) cos(N )−
sin(3n) sin(N ). To satisfy equation (1), we need to find N such that

cos(3n) = cos(3n) cos(N ) − sin(3n) sin(N ).

Clearly, there is no integer value of N for which cos(N ) = 1 and sin(N ) = 0,

therefore cos(3n) is aperiodic.

(c) x[n] = 0.2n u[n], where u[n] is the unit step function.
Solution: This is an exponential function which is aperiodic.

(d) x[n] = u[n] + u[−n], where u[n] is the unit step function.

Solution: Based on the definition, x[n] can be written as,

(
2, n = 0
x[n] = (2)
1, otherwise

Clearly, this is an aperiodic signal.

(e) x[n] = ej5n , where ejθ = cos θ + j sin θ

Solution: Based on the definition, Re{x[n]} = cos(5n) which is aperiodic as we

showed in the solution for 1.(b). Now x[n] = ej5n = cos(5n) + j sin(5n), and since
cos(5n) is aperioidic, x[n] is also aperiodic.

1
Homework 1 solutions ESET 3302 Dr. Geetha Chandrasekaran
(Due: Sep 14, 10:00 pm)

2. A discrete time signal x[n] is shown in the figure below:

1
1
2

−4 −2 2 4 6

−1

−2

Sketch and label carefully each of the following. (a) x[n−2] (b) x[4−n] (c) x[2n] (d) x[n]u[2−n]
(e) x[n − 1]δ[n − 3]
Solution:

(a) x[n − 2] 1 (b) x[4 − n] 1

1
2

−4 −2 2 4 6 −2 2 4 6

−1 −1

−2 −2

(e) x[n − 1]δ[n − (3], note that δ[n − 3] is non-zero only for n = 3, so x[n − 1]δ[n − 3] =
1, n = 3
x[3 − 1]δ[3 − 3] =
0, otherwise

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Homework 1 solutions ESET 3302 Dr. Geetha Chandrasekaran
(Due: Sep 14, 10:00 pm)

(c) x[2n] 1 (d) x[n]u[2 − n]

1

−4 −2 2 4 6 −4 −2 2 4 6

−1 −1

−2 −2

3. For each of the following systems comment on the following: is the system Linear Time
Invariant? Causal? Stable?

(a) y[n] = nk=0 x[k] Solution: Linear, Time-variant, causal and not BIBO stable
P

• Linearity:
A system is linear if it satisfies the principles of superposition and scaling.
– Let x1 [n] and x2 [n] be two inputs with corresponding outputs y1 [n] and y2 [n]
– For input ax1 [n] + bx2 [n], the output should be ay1 [n] + by2 [n].
– Given y[n] = nk=0 x[k]:
P
- For x1 [n], y1 [n] = Pnk=0 x1 [k]
P
- For x2 [n], y2 [n] = nk=0 x2 [k]
– For inputPax1 [n] + bx2 [n]:
n
- y[n] = P k=0 (ax1 [k] + bx 2 [k])
- y[n] = a nk=0 x1 [k] + b nk=0 x2 [k] - y[n] = ay1 [n] + by2 [n]
P

• Time invariance:
A system is time-invariant if a time shift in the input results in an identical time
shift in the output.
– Let x[n] be the input with output y[n]
– For a shifted input x[n − n0 ], the output should be y[n − n0 ]
– Given y[n] = nk=0 x[k]:
P

– For input x[n − n0 ], the output is y ′ [n] = nk=0 x[k − n0 ]

P

– However, y ′ [n] = nk=0 x[k − n0 ] is not the same as y[n − n0 ] = n−n

P P 0
k=0 x[k],
indicating that the output does not simply shift by n0 .
• Causality:
The output depends only on the present and past input values, and hence the system
is Causal
• Stability:
To determine if a system is stable, we need to check if it is Bounded Input Bounded
Output (BIBO) stable. A system is BIBO stable if every bounded input produces
a bounded output.

3
Homework 1 solutions ESET 3302 Dr. Geetha Chandrasekaran
(Due: Sep 14, 10:00 pm)

– Let x[n] be a bounded input such that |x[n]| ≤ M for all n, where M is a finite
constant.
– The output y[n] is given by y[n] = nk=0 x[k]
P

– Since |x[k]| ≤ M for all k, the sum of these terms up to n will be bounded by
the sum of n + 1 terms, each of which is at most M .
– Therefore, |y[n]| ≤ nk=0 |x[k]| ≤ nk=0 M = M (n + 1).
P P

As n increases, the term M (n+1) can grow without bound, meaning that the output
y[n] can become arbitrarily large
P even if the input x[n] is bounded.
Therefore, the system y[n] = nk=0 x[k] is not BIBO stable because a bounded
input does not necessarily produce a bounded output.
Hence, the system is linear, time-variant, causal and not stable.
(b) y[n] = 0.3x[n − 1] Solution: LTI, causal and stable
• Linearity:

– Let y1 [n] = 0.3x1 [n − 1] and y2 [n] = 0.3x2 [n − 1]

– The output for x3 [n] = ax1 [n] + bx2 [n] is

y3 [n] = 0.3x3 [n − 1]
= 0.3(ax1 [n] + bx2 [n])
= a(0.3x1 [n]) + b(0.3x2 [n])
= ay1 [n] + by2 [n]

• Time invariance:

– For an input x[n − n0 ], the output is y ′ [n] = 0.3x[n − n0 − 1] = y[n − n0 ].

Therefore, the system is time-invariant.
• Causality:
This system is causal as the output depends only on the present and past values of
the output
• Stability:
If |x[n]| is always less than B, then |y[n] < 0.3B, therefore the system is BIBO
stable.
(c) y[n] = 0.2y[n + 1] + x[n] Solution: Linear, Time variant, Non-causal and non stable
• Linearity: To determine if the system defined by y1 [n] = 0.2y1 [n + 1] + x1 [n] is
linear, the easiest method is to check if it satisfies the principles of superposition
and scaling

– Superposition:
– Let y1 [n] = 0.2y1 [n + 1] + x1 [n] and y2 [n] = 0.2y2 [n + 1] + x2 [n]
– The output for x3 [n] = x1 [n] + x2 [n] is

y3 [n] = 0.2y3 [n + 1] + x3 [n]

= 0.2y3 [n + 1] + (x1 [n] + x2 [n])

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Homework 1 solutions ESET 3302 Dr. Geetha Chandrasekaran
(Due: Sep 14, 10:00 pm)

–Note that y1 [n] + y2 [n] = 0.2y1 [n + 1] + x1 [n] + 0.2y2 [n + 1] + x2 [n]

–Simplify y1 [n] + y2 [n] = 0.2(y1 [n + 1] + y2 [n + 1]) + x1 [n] + x2 [n]
–Rewrite y ′ [n] = 0.2y ′ [n+1]+x1 [n]+x2 [n], same as y3 [n], so superposition property holds
–Scaling
–For a scaled input ax1 [n], let the output be ay1 [n] : ay1 [n] = 0.2ay1 [n+1]+ax1 [n]
–This matches the scaled version of the original system equation, so the system
satisfies scaling
• Time invariance:

– For input x[n], the output is y[n] = 0.2y[n + 1] + x[n]

– Let the input be x[n − n0 ], the output is y ′ [n] = 0.2y ′ [n + 1] + x[n − n0 ]
– A time shifted version of the output of x[n] is y[n−n0 ] = 0.2y[n−n0 +1]+x[n−n0 ]
– Notice that y ′ [n] has y ′ [n + 1], which is not the same as y ′ [n − n0 + 1]
– This system is time variant
• Causality:
This system is not causal as the output depends on future values of the output
• Stability:

– y[0] = 0.2y[1] + x[0]

– y[1] = 0.2y[2] + x[1], therefore y[0] = 0.2(0.2y[2] + x[1]) + x[0]
– y[2] = 0.2y[3] + x[2], therefore y[0] = 0.2(0.2(0.2y[3] + x[2])) + x[1]) + x[0]
– Clearly, even if x[n] < B∀n, y[n] becomes unbounded
(d) y[n] = x[3n] Solution: Linear, Time variant, Non-causal and stable
• Linearity:
– Let y1 [n] = x1 [3n] and y2 [n] = x2 [3n]
– Then for an input x3 [n] = ax1 [n] + bx2 [n], the output is y3 [n] = x3 [3n] =
ax1 [3n] + bx2 [3n] = ay1 [n] + by2 [n], therefore the system is linear
• Time invariance:

– For input x[n − n0 ] into the original system equation: y ′ [n] = x[3(n − n0 )] =
x[3n − 3n0 ]
• A time shifted version of the output y[n−n0 ] = x[3(n−n0 )] = x[3n−3n0 ]. Therefore
this system is time invariant.
• Causality:
Note that y[0] = x[0] but y[1] = x[3]. This system is not causal as the output
depends on future values of the output
• Stability:
If |x[n]| is always less than B, then |y[n]| < B, therefore the system is BIBO stable.
(e) y[n] = x[n] + cos( πn4 )x[n − 1] Solution: LTI, causal and stable.
• Linearity:
– Let y1[n] = x1 [n] + cos(πn/4)x1 [n − 1] y2[n] = x2 [n] + cos(πn/4)x2 [n − 1], then
x3 [n] = ax1 [n] + bx2 [n], the output is
y3 [n] = x3 [n]+cos(πn/4)x3 [n−1] = (ax1 [n]+bx2 [n])+cos(πn/4)(ax1 [n−1]+bx2 [n−1]) = ay1 [n]+
. Therefore the system is linear.

5
Homework 1 solutions ESET 3302 Dr. Geetha Chandrasekaran
(Due: Sep 14, 10:00 pm)

• Time invariance:

– For an input x[n − n0 ], the output is y ′ [n] = x[n − n0 ] + cos( πn

4 )x[n − n0 − 1] =
y[n − n0 ]. Therefore, the system is time-invariant.
– But y[n − n0 ] = x[n − n0 ] + cos( π(n−n
4
0)
)x[n − n0 − 1]
– Since cos( π(n−n4
0)
) ̸= cos( πn ′
4 ) ̸= y [n], this system is time variant
• Causality:
This system is causal as the output depends only on the present and past values of
the output
• Stability:
If |x[n]| is always less than B, then |y[n]| < 2B, therefore the system is BIBO stable.