Signals and Systems

In practical engineering it is very common to assume, at least initially, that the system to be analysed or
designed is linear and time-invariant. Linear, time-invariant systems provide potentially good approximations
to the behaviour of many systems in their normal operating region. The advantage of linear, time-invariant
systems is that they can in general be analysed. Nonlinear systems on the other hand cannot in general be
analysed and one is forced to resort to approximate analysis based on simulation. This module offers an
introduction to the analysis of linear, time-invariant systems. Ideally the analysis of a system involves the
determination as mathematical functions of time of all of the signals associated with the system. Accordingly
it is impossible to provide an analysis procedure for systems without a preliminary discussion of signals.
Specifically the module introduces and explains the mathematical ideas which underpin the very important
concept of the frequency content of a signal. The module covers the mathematics required to undertake a study
of dynamics, communication theory, signal processing, advanced circuit theory, partial differential equations
and control theory, with engineering examples. The module also provides advanced techniques for the solution of
linear, constant coefficient, ordinary differential equations.