In this book, we are discussing signals and systems related to engineering.

The discussion in this book is

mainly concerned with the modeling of physical signals and systems by mathematical functions and the
solution of such mathematical functions when the system is excited by such signals.

1.1.1 Signals

A signal is formally defined as a function of one or more variables, which conveys information. Any
variable, which doesn't convey information is called noise. A signal is a physical quantity that varies with
time in general or any other independent variable. A signal can be dependent on one or more
independent variables. Any signal represented by one or more variables is called dimension.

For example, if we are conversing (signal or information) with others, the surrounding disturbances are
called noise.

1.1.2 One-dimensional Signal

When the function depends on a single variable to represent the signal it is said to be one-dimensional
signal. For example, speech signal, ECG signal, etc.