20 CHAPTER 1.

FUNDAMENTALS OF SIGNALS

Figure 1.13: Representing of a signal x[n] using a train of impulses δ[n − k].

1.6.3 Continuous-time Impulse and Step Functions

Definition 9. The dirac delta function is defined as
(
0, if t 6= 0
δ(t) = ,
∞, if t = 0

where Z ∞
δ(t)dt = 1.
−∞

Definition 10. The unit step function is defined as

(
0, t<0
u(t) =
1, t ≥ 0.

1.6.4 Property of δ(t)

The properties of δ(t) are analogous to the discrete-time case.
2.1. SYSTEM PROPERTIES 29

1. To show that a system is invertible, one has to show the inversion formula.

2. To show that a system is not invertible, one has to give a counter example.

Example 1.
The system y(t) = (cos(t) + 2)x(t) is invertible.

Proof. To show that the system is invertible, we need to find an inversion formula.
This is easy: y(t) = (cos(t) + 2)x(t) implies that (by rearranging terms)

y(t)
x(t) = ,
cos(t) + 2

which is the inversion formula. Note that the denominator is always positive, thus
the division is valid.

Example 2.
The system y[n] = x[n] + y[n − 1] is invertible.

Proof. y[n] = x[n] + y[n − 1] implies that (by rearranging terms)

x[n] = y[n] − y[n − 1].

This is the inversion formula.

Example 3.
The system y(t) = x2 (t) is not invertible.

Proof. To show that a system is not invertible, we construct a counter example. Let
us consider two signals

x1 (t) = 1, ∀t
x2 (t) = −1, ∀t.

Clearly x1 (t) 6= x2 (t), but (x1 (t))2 = (x2 (t))2 . Therefore, we have found a counter
example such that different inputs give the same output. Hence the system is not
invertible.
34 CHAPTER 2. FUNDAMENTALS OF SYSTEMS

Figure 2.3: Definition of an impulse response

We have shown that

x[n]δ[n − n0 ] = x[n0 ]δ[n − n0 ]. (2.2)
Using this fact, we get the following equalities:

x[n]δ[n] = x[0]δ[n] (n0 = 0)

x[n]δ[n − 1] = x[1]δ[n − 1] (n0 = 1)
x[n]δ[n − 2] = x[2]δ[n − 2] (n0 = 2)
.. ..
. .
| {z }! | {z }
∞ ∞
P
=x[n]
P
δ[n−k] = x[k]δ[n−k]
k=−∞ k=−∞

The sum on the left hand side is

∞
!
X
x[n] δ[n − k] = x[n],
k=−∞

∞
P
because δ[n − k] = 1 for all n. The sum on the right hand side is
k=−∞

∞
X
x[k]δ[n − k]
k=−∞

Therefore, equating the left hand side and right hand side yields

∞
X
x[n] = x[k]δ[n − k] (2.3)
k=−∞

In other words, for any signal x[n], we can always express it as a sum of impulses!