Signals and Systems 2

Topic 2 - Z-Transform

Alex Tho Tran, PhD

School of Engineering, Eastern International University
The Z-Transform Properties of the Z-Transform The Inverse Z-Transform

The Z-Transform
• The bilateral/two-sided Z-transform of a discrete-time signal x[n] is defined as
+∞
X
X (z) = Z{x[n]} = x[n]z −n where z is a complex variable.
n=−∞
X (z) = · · · + x[−2]z 2 + x[−1]z 1 + x[0] + x[1]z −1 + x[2]z −2 + . . .
Applications: understanding signal characteristics, signal-system interaction, and
fundamental characteristics of systems such as causality and stability.
• The unilateral/one-sided Z-transform of a discrete-time signal x[n] is defined as
+∞
X
X (z) = Z{x[n]} = x[n]z −n where z is a complex variable.
n=0

Applications: solving a linear constant-coefficient difference equation with

specified initial conditions.
Z
• Notation: x[n] ←
→ X (z)
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The Z-Transform Properties of the Z-Transform The Inverse Z-Transform

Region of Convergence (ROC) of the Z-Transform

• ROC is the set of all values of z for which X (z) attains a finite value.

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The Z-Transform Properties of the Z-Transform The Inverse Z-Transform

Region of Convergence (ROC) of the Z-Transform

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The Z-Transform Properties of the Z-Transform The Inverse Z-Transform

Common Z-Transform Pairs

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The Z-Transform Properties of the Z-Transform The Inverse Z-Transform

Properties of the Z-Transform

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The Z-Transform Properties of the Z-Transform The Inverse Z-Transform

The Inverse Z-Transform

• Inverse Z-transform corresponds to finding x[n] given X (z) and its ROC.
• The Z-transform and inverse Z-transform are one-to-one mapping provided that
Z
the ROC is given: x[n] ←
→ X (z)

• Commonly used techniques to evaluate the inverse Z-transform:

▶ Power Series Expansion
▶ Inspection Method
▶ Partial Fraction Expansion

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The Z-Transform Properties of the Z-Transform The Inverse Z-Transform

Power Series Expansion

Z-transform X (z) is a power series:
+∞
X
X (z) = x[n]z −n = · · · + x[−2]z 2 + x[−1]z 1 + x[0] + x[1]z −1 + x[2]z −2 + . . .
n=−∞

To perform inverse Z-transform, we can

• Write the function to be inverted X (z) as a power series
• Identify x[n] by taking the coefficients of the series expansion (z −n )

Example

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The Z-Transform Properties of the Z-Transform The Inverse Z-Transform

Power Series Expansion (Long Division for Rational Functions)

Z-transform X (z) is a rational function (a ratio of two polynomials):

A(z) a0 + a1 z + · · · + aM−1 z M−1 + aM z M
X (z) = =
B(z) b0 + b1 z + · · · + bN−1 z N−1 + bN z N

If x[n] is a causal signal: x[n] = 0 ∀n < 0

+∞
X
⇒ x[n]z −n = x[0] + x[1]z −1 + x[2]z −2 + . . . → power series in z −1
n=0

If x[n] is a anti-causal signal: x[n] = 0 ∀n ≤ 0

X−1
⇒ x[n]z −n = · · · + x[−3]z 3 + x[−2]z 2 + x[−1]z 1 → power series in z
n=−∞

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The Z-Transform Properties of the Z-Transform The Inverse Z-Transform

Power Series Expansion (Long Division for Rational Functions)

Advantages Disadvantages
• Sometimes will run to infinity
• Relatively straight forward method
• General close-form solution cannot be
• Applicable to any rational function found
• Can be used to convert improper • Long division becomes tedious when
rational function into proper rational more than a few values are required,
function limiting the usefulness of this
approach

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The Z-Transform Properties of the Z-Transform The Inverse Z-Transform

Inspection Method

• Familiarity with common Z-transform pairs and properties allows us to determine

the inverse Z-transform by inspection.
• Look-up the Z-transform tables
(common Z-transform pairs and properties of the Z-transform).
• Decompose/Express the X (z) function as a linear combination.

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The Z-Transform Properties of the Z-Transform The Inverse Z-Transform

Partial Fraction Expansion

Z-transform X (z) is a proper rational function:
A(z) a0 + a1 z −1 + · · · + aM z −M
X (z) = = , M<N
B(z) 1 + b1 z −1 + · · · + bN z −N
Note: if b0 ̸= 1, divide both numerator and denominator by b0 .
Eliminate negative powers of z by multiplying the numerator and denominator by z N
a0 z N + a1 z N−1 + · · · + aM z N−M
X (z) =
z N + b1 z N−1 + · · · + bN
X (z) a0 z N−1 + a1 z N−2 + · · · + aM z N−M−1
=
z z N + b1 z N−1 + · · · + bN
X (z) A1 A2 AN
Distinct poles: = + + ··· +
z z − p1 z − p2 z − pN
partial fractions
X (z) A1 Ak1 Ak2 AkQ AN
Repeated poles: = +· · ·+ + 2
+· · ·+ Q
+· · ·+
z z − p1 z − pk (z − pk ) (z − pk ) z − pN
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The Z-Transform Properties of the Z-Transform The Inverse Z-Transform

Partial Fraction Expansion

Advantages Disadvantages
• Applicable to strictly proper rational
• It decomposes a higher-order system functions in standard form.
into a linear combination of • Getting complex when handling 3
lower-order subsystems. different types of roots for a
polynomial function of z, i.e.,
• A general closed-form solution can be ▶ Distinct Real Poles
found. ▶ Repeated Real Poles
▶ Complex Conjugate Poles

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