HANOI UNIVERSITY

TRƯỜNG OF SCIENCE
ĐẠI HỌC ANDHÀ
BÁCH KHOA TECHNOLOGY
NỘI
SCHOOL OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNITCATION TECHNOLOGY

UNIT 3
DISCRETE SIGNALS

Department of Computer Engineering

❑ Contents

1. The forms of discrete signal representations

2. The fundamental discrete signals

3. The operations with discrete signals

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❑ Learning Objectives
After studying this lesson, you will be able to:

▪ Understand the methods of representing discrete signals

▪ Identify some fundamental discrete signals

▪ Understand the concepts of energy and power of a signal

▪ Perform basic operations with discrete signals.

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1. Representation forms of discrete signals

● Discrete signal x(n): only specify for integer values of n.

● Graphical representation

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Representation forms of discrete signals

● Representation by function
1, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑛 = 1, 3
𝑥 𝑛 = ቐ4, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑛 = 2
0, 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒

● Representation by table
n … -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 …
x(n) … 0 0 0 1 4 1 0 0 …

● Representation by sequence of numbers.

x n = {… 0, 0, 1, 4, 1, 0, 0, … }

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2. Fundamental discrete signals
• Impulse signal

1, n = 0
δ n =ቊ
0, n ≠ 0

𝛿 𝑛 𝛿 𝑛
1

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 n

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Unit step signal

1, n ≥ 0
u n =ቊ
0, n < 0

u n

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Rectangle signal

1, 0 ≤n ≤N−1
rect N n =ቊ 1, 0 ≤ n ≤ 2
0, n < 0 và n > N − 1 rect 3 n = ቊ
0, n<0

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Casual exponential signal

an , n ≥0
ue n = ቊ
0, n<0

ue n
a <1

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Ramp signal

n, n ≥ 0
ur n = ቊ
0, n < 0

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The energy and power of the signal
● The energy of the signal x(n)
∞

E = ෍ x(n) 2

n=−∞

● The power of the signal x(n)

N
1 2
P = lim ෍ x(n)
N→∞ 2N + 1
n=−N

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Example
● Compute energy and power of the signal u(n)

∞ N
1 N+1 1 + 1ΤN 1
E= ෍ u(n)2 =∞ P = lim 2
෍ u(n) = lim = lim =
N→∞ 2N + 1 N→∞ 2N + 1 N→∞ 2 + 1ΤN 2
n=0 n=0

The signal u(n) has a finite power

and an infinite energy

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Periodic signal

● The signal x(n) is periodic with period N N > 0 if and only if

x n+N =x n ∀n
● The smallest N is the fundamental period

x(n)

● Nonperiodic signal has an infinite fundamental period

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Even and odd signals
● Even signal: x −n = x(n)

● Odd signal: x −n = −x(n)

● Signal decomposition:
1
xe n = 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑥(−𝑛)
2
x n = xe n + xo (n)
1
xo n = 𝑥 𝑛 − 𝑥(−𝑛)
2
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3. Basic operations with discrete signal
● Sum of two signals

x2 (n)

x1 (n) x1 n + x2 (n)

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Basic operations with discrete signal
● Product of two signals

x2 (n)

x1 (n) x1 n . x2 (n)

● Amplification of a signal

𝑥(n) 𝛼 𝑦 𝑛 = 𝛼𝑥(𝑛)

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Time shifting
● Right shifting n0 samples:

y n = x(n − n0 )

● Left shifting n0 samples:

y n = x(n + n0 )

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Signal delay and analysis
● Delay:
𝑥(n) 𝑥(n − 1)
𝐷

● Analysis: any discrete signal x n can be represented in terms of a sum of

weighted delayed impulses ∞

x n = ෍ x(k)𝛿(n − k)
k=−∞

● Example: x n = 0.5 𝛿 n + 1. 𝛿 n − 1 + 0.5 𝛿 n − 2

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Time reversal: y n = x(−n)

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Assignment
Given a discrete signal:
n
1+ −3 ≤ n ≤ −1
x n = 2
1 0≤n≤3
0 n#
a. Represent the signal x(n) as a sequence of numbers and draw the signal x(n).
b. Perform a time-reversal operation on the signal x(n) to obtain the signal x1 n .
Then, perform a 4-sample delay on this signal to obtain the signal x2 (n).
Represent x2 (n) as a sequence of numbers and draw the signal x2 (n).
c. Perform a 4-sample delay on the signal x(n) to obtain the signal x3 n . Then,
perform a time-reversal operation on this signal to obtain the signal 𝑥4 (n).
Represent x4 (n) as a sequence of numbers and draw the signal x4 n .
d. Compare the signals x2 (n) and x4 (n). From this, derive a rule to obtain the
signal x(−n + k) from the signal x(n).
e. Represent the signal x(n) in terms of the signals δ(n) and u(n).
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Assignment – a
x n = 0 ∀ n < −3
3 1
x −3 = 1 − = −
2 2
2
x −2 = 1 − = 0
2
1 1
x −1 = 1 − =
2 2
x 0 =x 1 =x 2 =x 3 =1
x n =0∀n>3
1 1
⟹ x n = ⋯ , 0, − , 0, , 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, ⋯
2 2 ↑

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Assignment – b
Performing time-reversal on the signal
x(n) we obtain:

1 1
x1 n = ⋯ , 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, , 0, − 0, ⋯
↑ 2 2

Continuing with a 4-sample delay on the

signal x1 n we have:
1 1
x2 n = ⋯ , 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, , 0, − 0, ⋯
↑ 2 2

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Assignment – c
Performing a 4-sample delay on the signal
x(n) we obtain:

x3 n
1 1
= ⋯ , 0, − ,↑0, , 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, ⋯
2 2
Continuing with a 4-sample delay on the
signal x3 n we have:
1 1
x4 n = ⋯ , 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, , 0, − 0, ⋯
2 2↑

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 Assignment – d
Discussion:
▪ The signal x2 (n) is delayed by 8
samples compared to the signal x4 (n)
▪ Relationship between x2 (n), x4 (n) and the
original signal x(n):
▪ x2 n = x(−n + 4), since x1 n = x(−n)
▪ x4 n = x(−n − 4), since x3 n = x(n − 4)
▪ To obtain the signal x(−n + k), we
perform a time-reversal operation ↑ to
obtain x(−n). Then we shift this signal
to the right by k samples if k > 0 or to
the left by −k samples if k < 0.

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Assignment – e
Performing time reversals operation on the signal x(n) we obtain:
1 1
x n =− 𝛿 n+3 + 𝛿 n+1 +𝛿 n +𝛿 n−1 +𝛿 n−2 +𝛿 n−3
2 2
We observe that:

𝛿 n + 𝛿 n − 1 + 𝛿 n − 2 + 𝛿 n − 3 = rect 4 (n)

𝛿 n + 𝛿 n − 1 + 𝛿 n − 2 + 𝛿 n − 3 = u n − u(n − 4)

Thus:
1 1
x n = − 𝛿 n + 3 + 𝛿 n + 1 + u n − u(n − 4)
2 2

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4. Summary
● Discrete signals can be represented using graphs, functions, numerical tables,
or sequences of numbers.

● Serveral fundamental types of discrete signals include unit impulses, unit step
signal, rectangular pulses, exponential signals, and ramp signals.

● There are several basic operations that can be performed on discrete signals.

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 5. Assignment

● Assignment 1
a. Performing a 2-sample delay on the signal x(n) to yields the signal x1(n), then
performing a time-reversal operation on x1(n) to produces the signal x2(n).
Determine and plot the signals x1(n) and x2(n).

b. Performing a time-reversal operation on the signal x(n) to yields the signal x3(n),
then performing a 2-sample delay on x3(n) to produces the signal x4(n).
Determine and plot the signals x3(n) and x4(n).

c. Compare the signals x2(n) and x4(n).

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Home work
● Assignment 2
• Given the following signal x n :

• Determine and plot the following signals, and comment on the role of each
operation :

• x1 n = x(n − 2)

• x2 n = x(−n)
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 The next unit
4
LINEAR TIME-INVARIANT DISCRETE-TIME
SYSTEMS
References:
• Nguyễn Quốc Trung (2008), Xử lý tín hiệu và lọc số, Tập 1, Nhà xuất bản Khoa học và Kỹ
thuật, Chương 1 Tín hiệu và hệ thống rời rạc.
• J.G. Proakis, D.G. Manolakis (2007), Digital Signal Processing, Principles, Algorithms, and
Applications, 4th Ed, Prentice Hall, Chapter 1 Introduction.

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 SCHOOL OF INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Wishing you all the best in your studies!

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