Chapter 2

1. Classification of Discrete-time Systems

1. Classification of Discrete-time Systems

i.) Static versus dynamic systems

A system is said to be static or memoryless if the response is due to present input alone, i.e., for a static
or memoryless system, the output at any instant 𝑛 depends only on the input applied at that instant 𝑛 but
not on the past or future values of input or past values of output.

Example:
a.) 𝑦(𝑛) = 𝑎𝑥(𝑛) b.) 𝑦(𝑛) = 𝑛𝑥(𝑛) + 𝑏𝑥 2 (𝑛)

In contrast, a system is said to be dynamic or memory system if the response depends upon past or future
inputs or past outputs. A summer or accumulator, a delay element is a discrete-time system with memory.

Example:
a.) 𝑥(2𝑛) d.) ∑𝑛𝑘=0 𝑥(𝑛 − 𝑘)
b.) 𝑦(𝑛) = 𝑥(𝑛) + 3𝑥(𝑛 − 1) e.) ∑∞
𝑘=0 𝑥(𝑛 − 𝑘)
c.) 𝑦(𝑛) + 4𝑦(𝑛 − 1) + 4𝑦(𝑛 − 2) = 𝑥(𝑛)

Any discrete-time system described by a difference equation is a dynamic system.

A purely resistive electrical circuit is a static system, whereas an electric circuit having inductors and/or
capacitors is a dynamic system.

ii.) Time-invariant versus time-variant systems

A system is called time-invariant if its input-output characteristics do not change with time.

A relaxed system is time-invariant or shift-invariant if and only if

implies that

for every input signal 𝑥(𝑛) and every time-shift 𝑘.

In general, we can write the output as

Now if the output 𝑦(𝑛, 𝑘) = 𝑦(𝑛 − 𝑘), for all possible values of 𝑘, the system is time-invariant. On the
other hand, if the output 𝑦(𝑛, 𝑘) ≠ 𝑦(𝑛 − 𝑘), even for one value of 𝑘, the system is time-variant.

Example:
Determine if the systems shown in Figure 2.1 are time-invariant or time-variant.
Figure 2.1: Examples of systems

Solution:
a.) This sytem is described by the input-output equations

Now,

On the other hand,

Since,
𝑦(𝑛, 𝑘) = 𝑦(𝑛 − 𝑘)
the system is time-invariant.

b.) The input-output equation for this system is

Now,

On the other hand,

Since,
𝑦(𝑛, 𝑘) ≠ 𝑦(𝑛 − 𝑘)
the system is time-variant.

c.) This system is described by the input-output relation

Now,

On the other hand,

Since,
 𝑦(𝑛, 𝑘) ≠ 𝑦(𝑛 − 𝑘)
the system is time-variant.

d.) The input-output equation for this system is

𝑦(𝑛) = 𝑥(𝑛)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔0 𝑛
Now,
𝑦(𝑛, 𝑘) = 𝑥(𝑛 − 𝑘)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔0 𝑛
On the other hand,
𝑦(𝑛 − 𝑘) = 𝑥(𝑛 − 𝑘)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔0 (𝑛 − 𝑘)
Since,
𝑦(𝑛, 𝑘) ≠ 𝑦(𝑛 − 𝑘)
the system is time-variant.

iii.) Linear versus nonlinear systems

A linear system is one that satisfies the superposition principle. Simply stated, the principle of
superposition requires that the response of the system to a weighted sum of signals be equal to the
corresponding weighted sum of the responses (outputs) of the system to each of the individual input
signals.

A system is linear if and only if

for any arbitrary input sequences 𝑥1 (𝑛) and 𝑥2 (𝑛), and any arbitrary constants 𝑎1 and 𝑎2. Figure 2.2 gives
an illustration of the superposition principle.

Figure 2.2: Graphical representation of the superposition principle. is linear if and only if 𝑦(𝑛) = 𝑦 ′ (𝑛)

In general, a relaxed, linear system with zero input produces a zero output. If a system produces a nonzero
output with a zero input, the system may be either nonrelaxed or nonlinear. If a relaxed system does not
satisfy the superposition principle, it is called nonlinear.

Example:
Determine if the systems described by the following input-output equations are linear or nonlinear.

Solution:
a.) For two input sequences 𝑥1 (𝑛) and 𝑥2 (𝑛), the corresponding outputs are

Now,

On the other hand,

Since,
𝑦3 (𝑛) = 𝑎1 𝑦1 (𝑛) + 𝑎2 𝑦2 (𝑛)

the system is linear.

b.) The response of the system to two separate input signals 𝑥1 (𝑛) and 𝑥2 (𝑛) are

Now,

On the other hand,

Since,
𝑦3 (𝑛) = 𝑎1 𝑦1 (𝑛) + 𝑎2 𝑦2 (𝑛)

the system is linear.

c.) The responses of the system to two separate signals are

Now,

On the other hand,

Since,
𝑦3 (𝑛) ≠ 𝑎1 𝑦1 (𝑛) + 𝑎2 𝑦2 (𝑛)

the system is nonlinear.

d.) Assuming that the system is excited by 𝑥1 (𝑛) and 𝑥2 (𝑛) separately, we obtain the corresponding
outputs,

Now,

On the other hand,

Since,
𝑦3 (𝑛) = 𝑎1 𝑦1 (𝑛) + 𝑎2 𝑦2 (𝑛)

the system is linear.

iv.) Causal versus noncausal systems

A system is said to be causal if the output of the system at any time 𝑛 [𝑖. 𝑒. , 𝑦(𝑛)] depends only on present
and past inputs [𝑖. 𝑒. , 𝑥(𝑛), 𝑥(𝑛 − 1, 𝑥(𝑛 − 2), … . ], but does not depend on future inputs [𝑖. 𝑒. , , 𝑥(𝑛 +
1, 𝑥(𝑛 + 2), … . ]. In mathematical terms, the output of a causal system satisfies an equation of the form

𝑦(𝑛) = 𝐹[ 𝑥(𝑛), 𝑥(𝑛 − 1, 𝑥(𝑛 − 2), … . ]

where 𝐹[… ] is some arbitrary function.

If a system does not satisfy what is stated above, it is called noncausal. Such a system has an output that
depends not only on present and past inputs but also on future inputs.

Example:
v.) Stable versus unstable systems
An arbitrary relaxed system is said to be bounded input-bounded output (BIBO) stable if and only if every
bounded input produces a bounded output.

The condition that the input sequence 𝑥(𝑛) and the output 𝑦(𝑛) are bounded is translated
mathematically to mean that there exist some finite numbers, say 𝑀𝑥 and 𝑀𝑦 , such that

For all 𝑛. If, for some bounded input sequence 𝑥(𝑛), the output is unbounded (infinite), the system is
classified as unstable.

Example:

Exercises:
A discrete time can be