Signals and Systems (EE2050A) IIT Palakkad

Problem Set - 5

1. Consider a causal continuous time LTI system whose input x(t) and output y(t) are
related by the following differential equation:

dy(t)
+ 4y(t) = x(t).
dt
Find the Fourier series representation of the output y(t) for each of the following inputs:

(a) x(t) = cos(2πt)

(b) x(t) = sin(4πt) + cos(6πt + π4 )

Method: Using the technique described in class find H(w). Express the input in terms
of Fourier series. Use the fact that Fourier series coefficient of the output will be a
scaled version of Fourier series coefficients of the input signal. Find the scaling con-
stant using H(w).
Ans: H(w) = 4+jw 1
. For (a), note that wo = 2π. Hence, x(t) contains a1 and a−1 which
are both equal to 0.5. Hence, y(t) contains b1 = 0.5H(2π) and b−1 = 0.5H(−2π).
We have b1 = 0.5 4+j2π
1
and b−1 = 0.5 4−j2π
1
. (b) For part (b), note that the funda-
mental frequency is still w0 = 2π. Hence, the input signal contains a2 , a3 , a−2 and
ejπ/4
a−3 coefficients. The output contains b2 = 2j(4+j4π)
1
, b−2 = 2j(4−j4π)
−1
, b3 = 2(4+j6π) and
−e−jπ/4
b−3 = 2(4−j6π)
.

2. Consider a continuous time LTI system with impulse response h(t) = e−4|t| . Find the
Fourier series representation of the output y(t) for each of the following inputs:

(a) x(t) =
P∞
n=−∞ δ(t − n)
(b) x(t) = n=−∞ (−1) δ(t
P∞ n
− n)
(c) x(t) is the periodic wave given in Fig. 1 with amplitude 1.

Figure 1: Figure for Q. 2(c)

Ans: Approach is similar to the first problem. H(w) = 16+w

8
2 . For part (a), note that

ak = 1 for all k (Remember the question in Test 1). Hence bk = 16+4π8

2 k 2 for all k.

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Signals and Systems (EE2050A)

Part (b). Plot the signal and observe that the time period = 2. Obtain Fourier series
coefficients for input x(t) as 
0, k even
ak = 
1 k odd .
Hence, the output Fourier series coefficients become

0, k even
bk =
 8
16+k2 π 2
k odd .

Part (c) Fourier series coefficient for x(t) is

1/2, k=0



bk = 0 k even , k ̸= 0

 sin(πk/2)
k odd.

πk

From this we can obtain Fourier series coefficients for the output as

1/4, k=0




ak = 0
 
k even , k ̸= 0

8 sin(πk/2)
k odd.


16+4k2 π 2 πk

3. Consider a causal LTI system implemented as RL circuit shown in Fig. 2.

• Find the differential equation relating x(t) and y(t)

• Find the frequency response of the system.
• Determine the output y(t) for the input x(t) = cos(t).

Figure 2: Figure for Q.3

Ans: x(t) = y(t) + L dy(t)

R dt
. H(w) = 1
1+jw
, y(t) = √1 cos(t
2
− π/4)

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Signals and Systems (EE2050A) IIT Palakkad

4. Consider a causal LTI system implemented as the RLC circuit shown in Figure ??.

• Find the differential equation relating x(t) and y(t)

• Find the frequency response of the system.
• Determine the output y(t) for the input x(t) = sin(t).

Figure 3: Figure for Q.4

2
Ans: x(t) = RC dy(t)
dt
+ LC d dty(t)
2 + y(t), H(w) = 1
1+jw−w2
. y(t) = −cos(t)

5. Consider the infinite sum

1 1 1
S=
+ 2 + 2 + ...
1 2 2 3
Surprisingly, you can find the value of S using Fourier series. Follow the below steps
to reach the answer.

(a) Consider the periodic signal x(t) with period 2π having one period described as
x(t) = t for −π < t < π.
(b) Plot two periods of the signal x(t).
(c) If x(t) = ak ejkwo t find the values of ak and wo .
P∞
k=−∞

(d) Write down the Parseval’s theorem of Fourier Series for the signal x(t). Is the
right hand side ( k=∞
k=−∞ |ak | ) related to the infinite series sum S defined above.
2
P

Use this relation to solve for S.

π2
Ans: ak = jcos(kπ)
k
, S= 6

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