Instructor Manual Designed by Engr.

Wania Anoosh

AIR UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

EXPERIMENT NO 1

Lab Title: Linear Time Invariant Systems and Their Properties

GROUP MEMBERS: MUHAMMAD SALLAL 200778

USMAN RAZA 200738
WALI MUHAMMAD 200750
TALHA NAEEM 200706 Objective:

Familiarizing students with a MATLAB LAB

ASSESSMENT:
Excellent Good Average Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Attributes (5) (4) (3) (2) (1)
Ability to Conduct
Experiment
Ability to assimilate the
results
Effective use of lab
equipment and follows
the lab safety rules

Total Marks: Obtained Marks:

Excellent Good Average Satisfactory Unsatisfactory

Attributes
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Data presentation

Experimental results

Conclusion
LAB REPORT ASSESSMENT:
Total Marks: Obtained Marks:

Date: Signature:

1|Page
 Instructor Manual Designed by Engr. Wania Anoosh

Experiment 03

Linear Time Invariant Systems and Their Properties

Objectives:
• Familiarizing students with Linear Time Invariant systems verifying its properties

Equipment required:
• MATLAB installed on PCs

Background Knowledge:
A system is a mathematical model, a piece of code/software, a physical device, or a black box which
takes an input, processes the input signal, and generates an output. A system is a defined by the type of
input and output it deals with. A discrete time system has inputs and outputs that are discrete time
signals, and a continuous time system has inputs and outputs that are continuous time signals.

Let D[·] denote a discrete time system that has discrete time input x[n] and discrete time output y[n].
Then we denote this input/output relationship by:
y[n] = D [x[n]]
where we emphasize that D[·] operates on the entire input signal x[n] to produce the output signal y[n].
Let C[·] denote a continuous time system that has continuous time input x(t) and continuous time
output y(t). Then we denote this input/output relationship by:
y(t) = T [x(t)]
Generally, systems are characterized into following categories:

i. Linear and non-linear systems

ii. Time variant and time invariant systems
iii. Static and dynamic systems

2|Page
 Instructor Manual Designed by Engr. Wania Anoosh

iv. Causal and non-causal systems

v. Invertible and non-invertible systems vi. Stable and unstable systems

Linear and Non-Linear Systems:

If a system obeys the principle of homogeneity and superposition, then it is known as a linear system.

Principle of Homogeneity:
If an input x is passed through the linear system L and results in output y, then according to principle of
homogeneity, if x is scaled by a value α and is passed through the same system L, the output will also
be scaled by α.

Superposition Principle:
According to the principle of superposition, if two inputs are added together and passed through a linear
system, the output will be the sum of the individual inputs' outputs. For instance, a system which gives
an output 𝑦1 for an input 𝑥1 and an output 𝑦2 for an input 𝑥2, must produce an output [𝑦1 + 𝑦2] for an
input [𝑥1 + 𝑥2].

The principle of homogeneity mentioned above holds in conjunction with the superposition principle.
Therefore, if the inputs x1 and x2 are scaled by factors 𝑎1 and 𝑎2, respectively, then the sum of these
scaled inputs will give the sum of the individual scaled outputs.
A continuous-time system is said to be linear if it satisfies the principle of superposition, such as:

𝐿[ 𝑎1𝑥1(𝑡) + 𝑎2𝑥2(𝑡) ] = 𝑎1𝐿[ 𝑥1(𝑡)] + 𝑎2𝐿[𝑥2(𝑡) ] = [𝑎1 𝑦1(𝑡) + 𝑎2 𝑦2(𝑡)]

Similarly, a discrete-time system is said to be linear if it satisfies the principle of superposition, such as:

𝐿[ 𝑎1𝑥1[𝑛] + 𝑎2𝑥2[𝑛] ] = 𝑎1𝐿[ 𝑥1[𝑛]] + 𝑎2𝐿[𝑥2[𝑛] ] = [𝑎1 𝑦1[𝑛] + 𝑎2 𝑦2[𝑛]]

Therefore, a system is called linear system if the output of the system due to weighted sum of inputs is
equal to the weighted sum of outputs.
If x[n] is an input signal and y[n] is output signal, then:

𝑦[𝑛] = 𝐿(𝑥[𝑛])

𝑦1[𝑛] = 𝐿[ 𝑥1[𝑛] ] 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦2[𝑛] = 𝐿[ 𝑥2[𝑛] ]

𝑥3[𝑛] = 𝑎1𝑥1[𝑛] + 𝑎2𝑥2[𝑛]

𝑦3[𝑛] = 𝐿[ 𝑥3[𝑛] ]

3|Page
 Instructor Manual Designed by Engr. Wania Anoosh

𝐿[𝑎1𝑥1[𝑛] + 𝑎2𝑥2[𝑛]] = 𝑎1𝑦1[𝑛] + 𝑎2𝑦2[𝑛]

MATLAB can be used to check linearity of a system. For instance, let 𝑦[𝑛] = 3 ∗ 𝑥[𝑛], then the linearity
of this system can be verified by writing the following code:

After entering the scaling factors in the command window, the system is deemed a linear system.

This can also be verified by plotting these signals.

4|Page
 Instructor Manual Designed by Engr. Wania Anoosh

Now let 𝑦[𝑛] = (𝑥[𝑛] + 5) ∗ 𝑥[𝑛], then the non-linearity of this system can be checked by writing the
following code:

After entering the scaling factors in the command window, the system is deemed a non-linear system.

This can also be verified by plotting these signals.

5|Page
 Instructor Manual Designed by Engr. Wania Anoosh

Time Variant and Time Invariant Systems:

Time-invariant systems are systems where the output for a particular input does not change depending
on when that input was applied. A time-invariant system that takes in signal x(t) and produces output
y(t), when excited by signal x(t-t0), produces the time-shifted output y(t-t0). Hence, the system is time
invariant because the output does not depend on the particular time the input is applied.

When x(t) and x(t−t0) are passed through a time-invariant system, the inputs x(t) and x(t−t0) produce
the same output. The only difference is that the output due to x(t−t0) is shifted by a time t0.

Equivalently, a discrete-time system is time or (more appropriately) shift invariant if,

𝑦[𝑛 − 𝑛0] = 𝑇𝐼{𝑥[𝑛 − 𝑛0]}

MATLAB can be used to check time-invariance of a system. For instance, let 𝑦[𝑛] = 𝑥[𝑛] ∗ 𝑥[𝑛], then the
time-invariance of this system can be verified by writing the following code:

6|Page
 Instructor Manual Designed by Engr. Wania Anoosh

The results can be viewed by plotting relevant graphs.

Let 𝑦[𝑛] = (𝑛. 𝑥[𝑛]) ∗ 𝑥[𝑛], then time-variance of this system can be checked by writing the given code:

7|Page
 Instructor Manual Designed by Engr. Wania Anoosh

The time variance of the system is also verified through plots.

If a system is both linear and time variant, then it is called Linear Time Variant (LTV) system.

If a system is both linear and time invariant, then that system is called Linear and Time Invariant (LTI)
system.

Linear Time Invariant System:

8|Page
 Instructor Manual Designed by Engr. Wania Anoosh

Impulse response is used to characterize an LTI system and is called the system’s impulse response. The
impulse response h[n] of an LTI system is the response to an impulse. The significance of h[n] is that we
can compute the response to any input once we know the response of LTI system to an impulse signal.

Properties of Linear Time Invariant System:

Convolution of LTI systems follows commutative, associative, and distributive law.

• Commutative property:
𝑥(𝑡) ∗ ℎ(𝑡) = ℎ(𝑡) ∗ 𝑥(𝑡) •
Associative property:
𝑥(𝑡) ∗ {ℎ1(𝑡) ∗ ℎ2(𝑡)} = {𝑥(𝑡) ∗ ℎ1(𝑡)} ∗ ℎ2(𝑡) •
Distributive property:

𝑥(𝑡) ∗ {ℎ1(𝑡) + ℎ2(𝑡)} = 𝑥(𝑡) ∗ ℎ1(𝑡) + 𝑥(𝑡) ∗ ℎ2(𝑡)

Some important properties of an LTI system are given below:

1. Causality:
A causal system does not produce an output before an input is applied. Therefore, the
output of a causal system depends only on the present and past values of input but not on the
future inputs. Hence, for a causal LTI system: ℎ(𝑡) = 0, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡 < 0

The output of a causal LTI system for a causal input is given by:
𝑡
∫ 𝑥(𝜏) ℎ(𝑡 − 𝜏)𝑑𝜏
0
2. Stability:
If for a given system every bounded input produces a bounded output, then the system is
stable. The stability of an LTI system can be determined from its impulse response. For a
continuous-time LTI system to be stable, its impulse response h(t) must be absolutely integrable,
i.e.

3. Invertibility:
A system is known as invertible only if an inverse system exists which, when cascade with
the original system, produces and output equal to the input at first system. If an LTI system is
invertible then it will have a LTI inverse system.

4. Memory:
An LTI system is called static or memoryless system if its output at any time depends only upon
the value of the input at that time.
5. Unit step response: When the unit step input u(t) is applied to an LTI system, then the
corresponding output is called the unit step response s(t) of the LTI system.

9|Page
Lab Tasks:
1. Suppose that an LTI system is described by impulse response ℎ[𝑛] = 3𝑛. 𝑢[𝑛 − 5]. Compute
response of the system to the input signal 𝑥[𝑛] = 𝑢[𝑛 − 5] + 𝑢[𝑛 + 2] for 𝑛 = −15:15.

Hint: (𝑢[𝑛] is the unit step function. Use the ‘conv’ function for computing the convolution of
the given signals and use subplot() command to plot 𝑥[𝑛],ℎ[𝑛] and 𝑦[𝑛].
Solution:
2.Consider the given signals:
𝑥[𝑛] = 𝑒−2𝑛 ∗ 𝑢[𝑛 − 10]
ℎ1[𝑛] = 2−𝑛 ∗ 𝑢[𝑛 + 3] ℎ2[𝑛] =
0.3𝑛 ∗ 𝑢[𝑛 − 5]

where, 𝑛 = −15:15. Verify commutative, associative, and distributive property of convolution of

LTI systems for the given signals. Use subplot command to plot
𝑥[𝑛],ℎ1[𝑛], ℎ2[𝑛], LHS and RHS results of each property.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) Systems are a fundamental concept in the field of signal
processing and control systems. These systems have several important properties, including linearity,
time-invariance, causality, stability, and frequency response. These properties enable engineers and
scientists to analyze and design LTI systems using mathematical models and tools such as Laplace and
Fourier transforms. The understanding of LTI systems and their properties is essential in several
applications such as signal filtering, noise reduction, control systems, and communication systems. With
the help of LTI systems theory, engineers can design filters that can extract the desired frequency
content from a signal and reject the unwanted noise. Moreover, the properties of LTI systems can be
used to analyze the stability of control systems, ensuring that they operate reliably and safely. In
communication systems, LTI systems are used to transmit and receive signals with minimal distortion.
In summary, the study of LTI systems and their properties is critical to many fields of engineering and
science, and a deep understanding of these concepts is essential for designing and analyzing a wide
range of systems and applications.