Periodic Signals and Basic Signal
Representations
Step-by-step solutions with mathematical definitions, graphs, and signal-type comparison
Question 1: What is a periodic signal?
Continuous-time definition: A signal x(t) is periodic when there is a positive constant T such that
the signal repeats after every T seconds:
x(t + T) = x(t), for all t
The smallest positive value of T that satisfies this condition is called the fundamental period T0.
Discrete-time definition: A sequence x[n] is periodic when there is a positive integer N such
that:
x[n + N] = x[n], for every integer n
The smallest positive integer N is the fundamental period N0.
Check whether cos(0.2π) is periodic
As written, cos(0.2π) contains no time variable. It is a constant value:
cos(0.2π) = cos(π/5) ≈ 0.809
A constant signal does not change after a shift, so it satisfies the periodicity condition for every
positive shift. Therefore, it is periodic, but it has no unique fundamental period.
Usual intended form: In signals and systems, this question normally means x[n] = cos(0.2πn). The
following steps test that sequence.
Step 1 Write the sequence x[n] = cos(0.2πn)
Step 2 Apply the periodicity condition x[n + N] = x[n]
Step 3 Substitute n + N cos(0.2πn + 0.2πN) = cos(0.2πn)
Step 4 A cosine repeats after 2πk 0.2πN = 2πk, where k is an integer
Step 5 Solve for N N = 10k
Step 6 Choose the smallest positive integer k = 1 gives N₀ = 10
Answer: x[n] = cos(0.2πn) is periodic, and its fundamental period is N0 = 10 samples.
For comparison, if the intended continuous-time signal is x(t) = cos(0.2πt), then T0 = 2π/(0.2π)
= 10 seconds.
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Question 2: Mathematical and graphical representations
a) Unit step signal
The unit step changes from 0 to 1 at the origin. Its continuous-time mathematical definition is:
u(t) = 0 for t < 0; u(t) = 1 for t ≥ 0
Discrete-time equivalent: u[n] = 0 for n < 0 and u[n] = 1 for n ≥ 0.
b) General step signal
A general step may start at time t0 and may have amplitude A:
x(t) = A u(t - t₀) = 0 for t < t₀; A for t ≥ t₀
The graph above uses A = 3 and t0 = 2. The unit step is the special case A = 1 and t0 = 0.
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c) Unit impulse signal
The continuous-time unit impulse, also called the Dirac delta, is represented by δ(t). It is zero
everywhere except at t = 0 and has total area equal to 1:
δ(t) = 0 for t ≠ 0, and ∫-∞∞ δ(t) dt = 1
The arrow does not show an ordinary finite amplitude. It represents an ideal pulse of zero duration and unit area.
d) General impulse signal
An impulse of area A occurring at time t0 is:
x(t) = Aδ(t - t₀), with ∫-∞∞ Aδ(t - t₀) dt = A
Discrete-time unit impulse: δ[n] = 1 at n = 0 and 0 elsewhere. A shifted and scaled discrete impulse is Aδ[n - n0].
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Question 3: Difference between analog, continuous,
discrete, and digital signals
These terms describe two separate properties: time and amplitude. Continuous/discrete mainly
describe the time axis, while analog/digital mainly describe the amplitude values and
representation.
Signal type Time variable Amplitude Explanation and example
Analog signal Usually continuous Continuous; infinitely many Represents a physical quantity
in time possible values within a range directly. Example: microphone
voltage that changes smoothly with
sound pressure.
Continuous-tim Defined at every May be continuous or, in Focuses on the time axis. Example:
e signal instant t theory, discrete-valued x(t) = sin(2πt), defined for every real
value of t.
Discrete-time Defined only at May still take Obtained by sampling a
signal separate instants, continuous-valued amplitudes continuous-time signal. Example: x[n]
usually t = nT = sin(0.2πn).
s
Digital signal Discrete in time Quantized into a finite or A sampled and quantized signal
countable set of levels and processed or stored digitally.
represented by numbers/bits Example: 16-bit audio samples in a
computer.
Key relationships
Analog and continuous-time Often occur together, but the words are not exactly identical. Analog refers mainly to continu
Discrete-time but not digital A sampled sequence can have exact real-valued amplitudes before quantization. It is discret
Digital signal Usually produced by sampling, quantization, and binary encoding. Therefore it is discrete in t
Example conversion Sound pressure → analog microphone voltage → sampled sequence → quantized digital numb
Final summary: A periodic signal repeats after a fixed interval. The sequence x[n] = cos(0.2πn) has
fundamental period 10. Unit step and impulse signals are elementary building blocks in signal analysis.
Analog/digital describe amplitude representation, whereas continuous/discrete primarily describe the
time variable.
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