ECE 314 – Signals and Systems Fall 2012

Solutions to Homework 5

Problem 2.51 Determine the impulse response of the system described

by y(n) = x(n) + ax(n − k).

Solution: Replace x by δ to obtain the impulse response: h(n) = δ(n) +

aδ(n − k).

Problem 2.53 Determine the homogeneous solutions for the systems de-
scribed by the following differential equations:
(a) 5 dtd y(t) + 10y(t) = 2x(t)
Solution: The homogeneous counterpart to the equation above is:
d
5 y(t) + 10y(t) = 0.
dt
To find the homogeneous solution, let’s suppose that yh (t) = aebt , where
a and b are constants. Then, if we plug the proposed solution in the equation
above, we will get:
5abebt + 10aebt = 0,
what means that 5ab = −10a, or b = −2. Therefore, the set of all homoge-
neous solutions to the equation is given by {ae−2t , a ∈ R}.
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(d) dtd 2 y(t) + 2 dtd y(t) + 2y(t) = x(t)
Solution: The homogeneous counterpart to the equation above is:

d2 d
2
y(t) + 2 y(t) + 2y(t) = 0.
dt dt
Now, if we again suppose that yh (t) = aebt . Then, if we plug the proposed
solution in the equation above, we will get:

ab2 ebt + 2abebt + 2aebt = 0,

what means that,

b2 + 2b + 2 = 0.

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 √ either b = −1+j,
This second-degree equation has two possible solutions,
or b = −1 − j (j corresponds to the complex number −1). So, the set of
all possible homogeneous solutions to the equation above is {a1 e(−1−j)t +
a2 e(−1+j)t , a1 , a2 ∈ R}.
Problem 2.54
(a) y[n] − αy[n − 1] = 2x[n]
Propose y0x [n] = Cρn , plug it in the homogeneous equation, and obtain
the characteristic equation ρ − α = 0. Thus, y0x [n] = Cαn . To find C, we
need to know y[−1] (which is not given in the problem). Set Cα−1 = y[−1]
to obtain C = αy[−1].

(b) y[n] − 1/4y[n − 1] − 1/8y[n − 2] = x[n] + x[n − 1]

Propose y0x [n] = Cρn , plug it in the homogeneous equation and obtain
the characteristic equation ρ2 − 1/4ρ − 1/8 = 0. The valid values for ρ are
ρ = 1/2 or ρ = −1/4. Thus, y0x [n] = C1 (1/2)n + C2 (−1/4)n . To find C, we
need to know y[−1] and y[−2] (which is not given in the problem).
Problem 2.55 Determine a particular solution for the systems described
by the following differential equations, for the given inputs:
d
(a) 5 y(t) + 10y(t) = 2x(t)
dt
(i) x(t) = 2
(ii) x(t) = e−t
(iii) x(t) = cos(3t)
Solution:
(i) Since x(t) is a constant function, and, as we know, derivatives of constants
are also constants, let’s suppose that y(t) = A (const). Thus, plugging it into
the equation, we get:
10A = 4 ⇒
A = 0.4.
(ii) Now, we suppose that y(t) = Ae−t . Then, plugging it into the equation,
we get:
−5Ae−t + 10Ae−t = 2e−t ⇒
−5A + 10A = 2 ⇒
A = 0.4.

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Thus, y(t) = 0.4e−t .
(iii) Now, let’s suppose that y(t) = A cos(3t) + B sin(3t). Then:

−5A sin(3t) + 5B cos(3t) + 10A cos(3t) + 10B sin(3t) = 2 cos(3t) ⇒

{
−5A + 10B = 0
⇒
10A + 5B = 2
{
A = 0.16
B = 0.08

Thus, y(t) = 0.16 cos(3t) + 0.08 sin(3t).

d2 d
(b) 2
y(t) + 4y(t) = 3 x(t)
dt dt
(i) x(t) = t
(ii) x(t) = e−t
(iii) x(t) = (cos(t) + sin(t))

Solution:
(i) We suppose y(t) = c1 t + c2 . Plugging it into the equation, we get
4c1 t + 4c2 = 3. Hence, c1 = 0 and c2 = 3/4, and we obtain y(t) = 3/4.

(ii) Propose y(t) = Ae−t and plug it into the equation to obtain Ae−t +
4Ae−t = 3e−t , or A = 3/5. Thus, y(t) = 3/5e−t .

(iii) Propose y(t) = A cos(t) + B sin(t). Then:

−A cos(t) − B sin(t) + 4A cos(t) + 4B sin(t) = −3 sin(t) + 3 cos(t)

{
−A + 4A = 3
−B + 4B = −3
{
A = 1
or
B = −1

Thus, y(t) = cos(t) − sin(t).

Problem 2.61

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Solution: Let i1 , i2 , i3 be the downward currents in the resistor, inductor and
capacitor, respectively. KCL implies x(t) = i1 (t)+i2 (t)+i3 (t). It follows that
x′ (t) = i′1 (t) + i′2 (t) + i′3 (t). However, y(t) = Ri1 (t) (or i′1 (t) = (1/R)y ′ (t)),
y(t) = Li′2 (t), and i3 (t) = Cy ′ (t) (or i′3 (t) = Cy ′′ (t)). Combining, we obtain

x′ (t) = Cy ′′ (t) + (1/R)y ′ (t) + (1/L)y(t).

To find the step response, we replace x(t) by u(t), which results in the
equation Cy ′′ (t) + (1/R)y ′ (t) + (1/L)y(t) = δ(t).
When actual R-L-C values are substituted, we obtain y ′′ (t) + 5y ′ (t) +
20y(t) = 5δ(t). The solution to this equation is 5 times the solution to the
equation y ′′ (t) + 5y ′ (t) + 20y(t) = δ(t) (why?), and the solution to the latter
is simply the impulse response of the system represented by y ′′ (t) + 5y ′ (t) +
20y(t) = x(t). From class notes we know that the impulse response for the
latter system is h(t) = (1/(r1 −r2 ))er1 t −(1/(r1 −r2 ))er2 t , t ≥ 0, where √
r1 and
r2 are the roots of √ the equation r + 5r + 20. They are r1 = −5/2 + j 55/2
2

and r2 = −5/2 − j 55/2 = −2.5 − j3.7081.

Hence, h(t) = −j0.1348e−2.5t+j3.7081 + j0.1348e−2.5t−j3.7081 , or
h(t) = 0.1348e−2.5t+j3.7081t−jπ/2
( + 0.1348e2.5t−j3.7081+jπ/2
) , or
h(t) = 0.1348e−2.5t ej(3.7081t−π/2) + e−j(3.7081t−π/2) , or
h(t) = 0.2696e−2.5t cos(3.7081t − π/2).
Finally, the step response of the RLC circuit is obtained by multiplying
h by 5:
ystep (t) = 1.348e−2.5t sin(3.7081t), t ≥ 0,

Problem 2.62 The difference equation to be considered is

y(n) = 1.01y(n − 1) − 1, 200u(n − 1), n ≥ 1, with y(0) = 100, 000.

The zero-input (or natural) response is of the form y0i (n) = c(1.01)n ,
n ≥ 0. By applying the initial condition y0i (0) = 100, 000, we obtain
y0i (n) = 100, 000(1.01)n , n ≥ 0.

The forced response can be computed by convolving the impulse response

of the system y(n)−1.01y(n−1) = x(n) by the input x(n) = −1, 200u(n−1).
Let us find the impulse response first. To do so, write the difference equation
h(n) − 1.01h(n − 1) = δ(n), n ≥ 0. Now consider n ≥ 1 to obtain the ho-
mogeneous equation h(n) − 1.01h(n − 1) = 0 (whose solution is of the form

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h(n) = h(0)1.01n u(n)), for which we need to find the derived initial condi-
tion h(0). But from the difference equation for h, h(0) = 1.01h(−1) + δ(0);
hence, h(0) = 1 since h(−1) = 0. (Recall that when calculating the impulse
response we assume no initial conditions prior to the application of the in-
put.) Hence, h(n) = 1.01n u(n).

The forced response is then

∑∞= h(n) ∗k(−1, 200u(n − 1))
yf (n)
= k=−∞ 1.01 u(k)(−1, 200u(n − 1 − k))
∑
= n−1 k
k=0 1.01 (−1, 200)
= −120000(1.01n − 1), n ≥ 0.

The total response is the sum of the zero-input response and the forced
response:
y(n) = 100, 000(1.01)n − 120000(1.01n − 1), n ≥ 0.

Note that y(181) = −1115.2 while y(180) = 83.96; thus, the loan is paid
off after the 181th payment (n=181). [Useful Matlab command: to find the
index for which y drops below zero for the first time consider the command
“min(find(y<0))”; read about the command “find”]

Problem 2.65 Find the difference equation for the three systems depicted
in Fig. P2.65 (in the textbook).
(a)
Solution: Let’s call the signal coming out of the first adder (Σ) f [n]. We can
see that
f [n] = x[n] − 2y[n].
Hence the signal coming out of the second adder is

y[n] = 2f [n] + f [n − 1]
= 2x[n] − 4y[n] + x[n − 1] − 2y[n − 1]
2 1 2
∴ y[n] = x[n] + x[n − 1] − y[n − 1].
5 5 5

(b)

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Solution: The signal coming out of the first adder is
1
f [n] = y[n] + x[n − 1]
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Hence,

y[n] = f [n − 1]
1
= y[n − 1] + x[n − 2].
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(c)
Solution: The output of the first adder is
1
f [n] = x[n] − y[n].
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Hence, the output of the second adder is
1
y[n] = x[n − 1] + f [n − 2]
2
1 1
= x[n − 1] + x[n − 2] − y[n − 2].
2 8

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Hence, the output of the second adder is
1
y[n] = x[n − 1] + f [n − 2]
2
1 1
= x[n − 1] + x[n − 2] − y[n − 2].
2 8

Problem 2.66 Draw direct form I (only) implementation for the following
difference equations:
(a) y[n] − 41 y[n − 1] = 6x[n]
Solution:
6
x[n] Σ y[n]

S
1
4

(b) y[n] + 12 y[n − 1] − 81 y[n − 2] = x[n] + 2x[n − 1]

Solution:

x[n] Σ Σ y[n]

S S

2 − 12
Σ

S
1
8