EEE 223 Signals and Systems

Lecture 1
Introduction, Complex Numbers, Basic Signal Classification

Dr. Shadan Khattak

Complex Numbers (1)

History of numbers:

Natural (positive) numbers (number of children, number of animals etc.)

Fractions (length of a field, weight of a quantity of butter etc.)
Irrational numbers: (Pythagoras, diagonal of a unit square)
Negative numbers:

(Hindus, 12th century, positive numbers have two square roots)

(bankers, Florence, Venice, subtract 7 from 5 = -2)
Provided solution to x + 5 = 0.
But what about x2 + 1 = 0, x2 = -1?

What to do with numbers whose square equals -1?

Imaginary (or complex) numbers (1777, Swiss mathematician Euler, i)
Electrical engineers use the notation j instead of i to avoid confusion with the notation i for
current.
Dr. Shadan Khattak

Complex Numbers (2)

Representation of Complex Number (The Complex Plane)
Cartesian form +

Where = , =
Magnitude: = 2 + 2

Phase (Angle): = 1 ( )

Polar form

Putting the values of a and b in Cartesian form, we get

+
+
(Eulers formula: = + )

pronounced
oyler

Magnitude:
Phase (Angle):

Conversion between Cartesian and Polar forms

Conjugate of a complex number ( )
Dr. Shadan Khattak

Complex Numbers - Numerical Problem

1. Express the following numbers in polar form:
1.
2.
3.
4.

2 + 3
2 + 3
2 3
1 3

Answers:
1.
0
123.7
2. 13
3.
4.
Dr. Shadan Khattak

Complex Numbers (4)

Understanding some useful identities
+ = 2
= 2

= 1
2 = 1
/2 =
/2 =

= 1, 5, 9, 13,
= 3, 7, 11, 15,

Dr. Shadan Khattak

Complex Numbers (5)

Arithmetic Operations, Powers and Roots of Complex Numbers
Let
Addition, Subtraction (in Cartesian form)
Multiplication, Division, Powers, Roots (in Polar form)
Multiplication:
Division:
Power:
Root:
Dr. Shadan Khattak

Signals
A signal is a set of data or information e.g.,

Monthly sales of a corporation

Daily closing down prices of a stock market
Source and capacitor voltages
Force applied on a car
Automobile velocity
Human vocal mechanism
Brightness across the image

Mathematically, signals are represented as functions of one or more

independent variable(s) e.g.,
Speech Signal: Acoustic pressure as a function of time
Image: Brightness as a function of two spatial variables
Dr. Shadan Khattak

Continuous Time (CT) vs Discrete Time (DT)

Signals
Continuous Time (CT)

The signal has a value at any instance in time

Independent variable usually enclosed in
parenthesis ()
E.g., = 2 + 1

Discrete Time (DT)

The signal has a value at discrete points in time

Independent variable usually enclosed in
square brackets []
Sometimes referred to as a sequence
E.g., = 2 + 1

The terms CT and DT qualify the nature of a

signal along the time (horizontal) axis

Dr. Shadan Khattak

Signal classification Analogue and Digital

Signals
Analogue
Continuous value (CV)

Digital
Discrete values (DV)

The terms Analogue and Digital qualify the nature of a signal

amplitude (vertical axis)
Dr. Shadan Khattak

Signal classification Periodic and Aperiodic

Signals
Periodic

A signal () is said to be periodic if for some positive constant 0

= + 0
for all t
The smallest value of 0 that satisfies the periodicity condition of this
equation is the fundamental period of ()

Aperiodic
A signal that is not periodic, is aperiodic.

Signal classification Causal, Non-causal, and

Anti-causal Signals
Causal
A signal that does not start before = 0 i.e.,
=0
<0

Non-causal
A signal that starts before = 0

Anti-causal
A signal that is zero for all 0

Signal classification Energy and Power

Signals
Energy
A signal with finite energy and zero power.

Power
Time average (over a very large interval) of energy.
A signal with finite power and infinite energy.

Take Home Messages!

1. While converting from Cartesian to Polar form, add or subtract 1800 in the
angle of the result if the complex number lies in second or third quadrant.
2. A signal is generally represented as a function of one or more independent
variable(s).
3. The terms CT and DT qualify the nature of a signal along the time (horizontal)
axis
4. The terms Analogue and Digital qualify the nature of a signal amplitude
(vertical axis)
5. A causal signal does not start before = 0
6. A signal cannot be both an energy signal and a power signal
7. But it is possible that a signal will neither be energy signal nor a power signal
e.g., the ramp signal.
Dr. Shadan Khattak

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Practice Problems
Exercise Problems:
1.1, 1.2 (Oppenheim)

Dr. Shadan Khattak

14

Useful Readings
Section 1.1 (Oppenheim)
Sections 1.3 (Lathi)

Dr. Shadan Khattak

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