Check if the system is linear











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The system:
$$ T(x[n]) = ax[n] + bx[n-3] $$



For me it seems that the system is linear:



$$
begin{align}
T(alpha_1x_1[n]+alpha_2x_2[n]) & = a(alpha_1x_1[n]+alpha_2x_2[n]) + b(alpha_1x_1[n-3]+alpha_2x_2[n-3]) \
& = alpha_1(ax_1[n] + bx_1[n-3]) + alpha_2(ax_2[n] + bx_2[n-3]) \
& = alpha_1T(x_1[n])+alpha_1T(x_2[n])
end{align}$$



Thus it's linear, however in the presentation I got it says it's not linear. (without reasoning) Where I'm making the mistake (or maybe there is a mistake in the presentation)










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  • Could you please share a document saying it is not linear? Maybe from the context we could get it
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 18:31






  • 1




    It could be hard as I don't have the access to the presentations. But it was in no context, just list of a few systems with the properties like linearity, time in-variance, causality, memorylessness, stability.
    – sswwqqaa
    Nov 28 at 19:35










  • Maybe you could talk to the source to double check there is no misunderstanding
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 20:53















up vote
4
down vote

favorite
1












The system:
$$ T(x[n]) = ax[n] + bx[n-3] $$



For me it seems that the system is linear:



$$
begin{align}
T(alpha_1x_1[n]+alpha_2x_2[n]) & = a(alpha_1x_1[n]+alpha_2x_2[n]) + b(alpha_1x_1[n-3]+alpha_2x_2[n-3]) \
& = alpha_1(ax_1[n] + bx_1[n-3]) + alpha_2(ax_2[n] + bx_2[n-3]) \
& = alpha_1T(x_1[n])+alpha_1T(x_2[n])
end{align}$$



Thus it's linear, however in the presentation I got it says it's not linear. (without reasoning) Where I'm making the mistake (or maybe there is a mistake in the presentation)










share|improve this question
























  • Could you please share a document saying it is not linear? Maybe from the context we could get it
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 18:31






  • 1




    It could be hard as I don't have the access to the presentations. But it was in no context, just list of a few systems with the properties like linearity, time in-variance, causality, memorylessness, stability.
    – sswwqqaa
    Nov 28 at 19:35










  • Maybe you could talk to the source to double check there is no misunderstanding
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 20:53













up vote
4
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
4
down vote

favorite
1






1





The system:
$$ T(x[n]) = ax[n] + bx[n-3] $$



For me it seems that the system is linear:



$$
begin{align}
T(alpha_1x_1[n]+alpha_2x_2[n]) & = a(alpha_1x_1[n]+alpha_2x_2[n]) + b(alpha_1x_1[n-3]+alpha_2x_2[n-3]) \
& = alpha_1(ax_1[n] + bx_1[n-3]) + alpha_2(ax_2[n] + bx_2[n-3]) \
& = alpha_1T(x_1[n])+alpha_1T(x_2[n])
end{align}$$



Thus it's linear, however in the presentation I got it says it's not linear. (without reasoning) Where I'm making the mistake (or maybe there is a mistake in the presentation)










share|improve this question















The system:
$$ T(x[n]) = ax[n] + bx[n-3] $$



For me it seems that the system is linear:



$$
begin{align}
T(alpha_1x_1[n]+alpha_2x_2[n]) & = a(alpha_1x_1[n]+alpha_2x_2[n]) + b(alpha_1x_1[n-3]+alpha_2x_2[n-3]) \
& = alpha_1(ax_1[n] + bx_1[n-3]) + alpha_2(ax_2[n] + bx_2[n-3]) \
& = alpha_1T(x_1[n])+alpha_1T(x_2[n])
end{align}$$



Thus it's linear, however in the presentation I got it says it's not linear. (without reasoning) Where I'm making the mistake (or maybe there is a mistake in the presentation)







linear-systems system-identification






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share|improve this question













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share|improve this question








edited Nov 28 at 16:52









Peter K.

16.7k83058




16.7k83058










asked Nov 28 at 16:04









sswwqqaa

1305




1305












  • Could you please share a document saying it is not linear? Maybe from the context we could get it
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 18:31






  • 1




    It could be hard as I don't have the access to the presentations. But it was in no context, just list of a few systems with the properties like linearity, time in-variance, causality, memorylessness, stability.
    – sswwqqaa
    Nov 28 at 19:35










  • Maybe you could talk to the source to double check there is no misunderstanding
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 20:53


















  • Could you please share a document saying it is not linear? Maybe from the context we could get it
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 18:31






  • 1




    It could be hard as I don't have the access to the presentations. But it was in no context, just list of a few systems with the properties like linearity, time in-variance, causality, memorylessness, stability.
    – sswwqqaa
    Nov 28 at 19:35










  • Maybe you could talk to the source to double check there is no misunderstanding
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 20:53
















Could you please share a document saying it is not linear? Maybe from the context we could get it
– Laurent Duval
Nov 28 at 18:31




Could you please share a document saying it is not linear? Maybe from the context we could get it
– Laurent Duval
Nov 28 at 18:31




1




1




It could be hard as I don't have the access to the presentations. But it was in no context, just list of a few systems with the properties like linearity, time in-variance, causality, memorylessness, stability.
– sswwqqaa
Nov 28 at 19:35




It could be hard as I don't have the access to the presentations. But it was in no context, just list of a few systems with the properties like linearity, time in-variance, causality, memorylessness, stability.
– sswwqqaa
Nov 28 at 19:35












Maybe you could talk to the source to double check there is no misunderstanding
– Laurent Duval
Nov 28 at 20:53




Maybe you could talk to the source to double check there is no misunderstanding
– Laurent Duval
Nov 28 at 20:53










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
5
down vote



accepted










I believe there's either a mistake in the presentation or the presentation is using a different definition of linear.



For example, the system is linear in $x$ from a system perspective, but it's affine in $x[n]$ (and, therefore not linear) because of the $bx[n-3]$ offset.



On this site, we tend to go with the system definition rather than split hairs about linearity versus affine-ness.






share|improve this answer

















  • 4




    The system is just a two-tap FIR filter. So I wouldn't say it's affine. It would be affine (if one was willing to make that distinction) if it were something like $y[n]=ax[n]+b$, i.e., just adding a constant (like a non-zero initial condition). That would make it non-linear in a signals&systems context.
    – Matt L.
    Nov 28 at 17:26






  • 1




    Indeed, I have never heard about "being affine" in the ordinal variable.
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 18:29










  • @MattL. Understood! I've just seen some mathematicians get their knickers in a twist over systems like in the original post. Without knowing the source of the claim that it's not linear, it's hard to rebut it.
    – Peter K.
    Nov 28 at 18:43












  • I can't resist pedantry here :) maybe $a$ and $b$ are elements of a non-additive magma?
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 20:17






  • 1




    @LaurentDuval 😅😂🤣😜
    – Peter K.
    Nov 28 at 23:43


















up vote
4
down vote













[Note: it may happen that a teacher makes a oral mistake, that puzzles the audience. So here is an alternative explanation on this system being non-something]



This system is, as far as Peter K., Matt L. and I know, nicely linear. You already did the computations. With a little more work, among classical properties, it is also time-invariant, causal, stable.



The only basic property it does not possess is "to be memoryless", unless one of the constant $a$ or $b$ (including both) is zero (see for instance an extended conception of a memoryless system from What is a memory less system?).






share|improve this answer



















  • 2




    It's indeed linear and time-invariant, not affine. It would only be affine if in its output there were a constant term that is independent of the input signal, which is not the case here. It's just a plain FIR filter.
    – Matt L.
    Nov 28 at 20:42






  • 1




    hmm let me put a (n almost) verbatim copy of your answer and wait to see if I get any upvotes :-)) and see if it is only you ;-)
    – Fat32
    Nov 29 at 9:12








  • 1




    Go ahead and I'd suggest you to add the non-additive magma notion
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 29 at 9:31


















up vote
2
down vote













A system $mathcal{T}$ is linear if its response to a weighted sum of two signals equals the weighted sum of its individual responses to those two input signals:



$$mathcal{T}big{alpha x_1+beta x_2big}=alphamathcal{T}big{x_1big}+betamathcal{T}big{x_2big}tag{1}$$



with arbitrary constants $alpha$ and $beta$, and arbitrary input sequences $x_1[n]$ and $x_2[n]$. A system $mathcal{T}$ satisfying $(1)$ is completely characterized by its impulse response $h[n]$, and its input-output relation can be formulated as a convolution of the input sequence with its impulse response:



$$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=sum_{k=-infty}^{infty}h[k]x[n-k]tag{2}$$



It is easily shown that the given system



$$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=y[n]=ax[n]+bx[n-3]tag{3}$$



satisfies $(1)$, and that it is characterized by the impulse response



$$h[n]=adelta[n]+bdelta[n-3]tag{4}$$



Clearly, its input-output relation $(3)$ can be written as a convolution sum $(2)$. Equivalently, the $mathcal{Z}$-transform of its response is given by the multiplication of the $mathcal{Z}$-transform of its input sequence and its transfer function $H(z)=mathcal{Z}{h[n]}$:



$$Y(z)=X(z)H(z)tag{5}$$



By contrast, an affine system does not satisfy $(1)$, and it cannot be characterized by an impulse response or, equivalently, by a transfer function. The given linear system $(3)$ could be made affine by adding a constant $c$ ($cneq 0$) to its output:



$$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=y[n]=ax[n]+bx[n-3]+ctag{6}$$



This input-output relation cannot be formulated in terms of a convolution $(2)$, and it can easily be checked that the system $(6)$ doesn't satisfy $(1)$. Such a system is not linear, since part of the output (the constant $c$) does not depend on the input signal $x[n]$.



There is no reasonable definition of linearity according to which the given system $(3)$ could be classified as being non-linear.






share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    -1
    down vote













    This system is, as far as Peter K., Laurent, and I know, nicely linear. It is also time-invariant, causal, and stable. Indeed it's LTI with impulse response $h[n] = a delta[n] + b delta[n-3]$.



    The only basic property it does not possess is "to be memoryless", unless $a$ or $b$ is zero (see for instance an extended version from What is a memory less system?).






    share|improve this answer





















    • Maybe you need another folk copying your answer to get the first vote
      – Laurent Duval
      Nov 29 at 19:37










    • @LaurentDuval 12 hours after the post and zero upvotes ! this's a disaster ! I should have been quick to copy (before you) PeterK instead ;-))
      – Fat32
      Nov 29 at 22:02










    • @LaurentDuval you see my copy is downvoted, whereas your copy is upvoted ;-)) this is plain injustice !
      – Fat32
      Dec 1 at 0:19










    • Sometimes, less is more. Lo siento
      – Laurent Duval
      2 days ago











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    4 Answers
    4






    active

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    4 Answers
    4






    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    5
    down vote



    accepted










    I believe there's either a mistake in the presentation or the presentation is using a different definition of linear.



    For example, the system is linear in $x$ from a system perspective, but it's affine in $x[n]$ (and, therefore not linear) because of the $bx[n-3]$ offset.



    On this site, we tend to go with the system definition rather than split hairs about linearity versus affine-ness.






    share|improve this answer

















    • 4




      The system is just a two-tap FIR filter. So I wouldn't say it's affine. It would be affine (if one was willing to make that distinction) if it were something like $y[n]=ax[n]+b$, i.e., just adding a constant (like a non-zero initial condition). That would make it non-linear in a signals&systems context.
      – Matt L.
      Nov 28 at 17:26






    • 1




      Indeed, I have never heard about "being affine" in the ordinal variable.
      – Laurent Duval
      Nov 28 at 18:29










    • @MattL. Understood! I've just seen some mathematicians get their knickers in a twist over systems like in the original post. Without knowing the source of the claim that it's not linear, it's hard to rebut it.
      – Peter K.
      Nov 28 at 18:43












    • I can't resist pedantry here :) maybe $a$ and $b$ are elements of a non-additive magma?
      – Laurent Duval
      Nov 28 at 20:17






    • 1




      @LaurentDuval 😅😂🤣😜
      – Peter K.
      Nov 28 at 23:43















    up vote
    5
    down vote



    accepted










    I believe there's either a mistake in the presentation or the presentation is using a different definition of linear.



    For example, the system is linear in $x$ from a system perspective, but it's affine in $x[n]$ (and, therefore not linear) because of the $bx[n-3]$ offset.



    On this site, we tend to go with the system definition rather than split hairs about linearity versus affine-ness.






    share|improve this answer

















    • 4




      The system is just a two-tap FIR filter. So I wouldn't say it's affine. It would be affine (if one was willing to make that distinction) if it were something like $y[n]=ax[n]+b$, i.e., just adding a constant (like a non-zero initial condition). That would make it non-linear in a signals&systems context.
      – Matt L.
      Nov 28 at 17:26






    • 1




      Indeed, I have never heard about "being affine" in the ordinal variable.
      – Laurent Duval
      Nov 28 at 18:29










    • @MattL. Understood! I've just seen some mathematicians get their knickers in a twist over systems like in the original post. Without knowing the source of the claim that it's not linear, it's hard to rebut it.
      – Peter K.
      Nov 28 at 18:43












    • I can't resist pedantry here :) maybe $a$ and $b$ are elements of a non-additive magma?
      – Laurent Duval
      Nov 28 at 20:17






    • 1




      @LaurentDuval 😅😂🤣😜
      – Peter K.
      Nov 28 at 23:43













    up vote
    5
    down vote



    accepted







    up vote
    5
    down vote



    accepted






    I believe there's either a mistake in the presentation or the presentation is using a different definition of linear.



    For example, the system is linear in $x$ from a system perspective, but it's affine in $x[n]$ (and, therefore not linear) because of the $bx[n-3]$ offset.



    On this site, we tend to go with the system definition rather than split hairs about linearity versus affine-ness.






    share|improve this answer












    I believe there's either a mistake in the presentation or the presentation is using a different definition of linear.



    For example, the system is linear in $x$ from a system perspective, but it's affine in $x[n]$ (and, therefore not linear) because of the $bx[n-3]$ offset.



    On this site, we tend to go with the system definition rather than split hairs about linearity versus affine-ness.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered Nov 28 at 16:55









    Peter K.

    16.7k83058




    16.7k83058








    • 4




      The system is just a two-tap FIR filter. So I wouldn't say it's affine. It would be affine (if one was willing to make that distinction) if it were something like $y[n]=ax[n]+b$, i.e., just adding a constant (like a non-zero initial condition). That would make it non-linear in a signals&systems context.
      – Matt L.
      Nov 28 at 17:26






    • 1




      Indeed, I have never heard about "being affine" in the ordinal variable.
      – Laurent Duval
      Nov 28 at 18:29










    • @MattL. Understood! I've just seen some mathematicians get their knickers in a twist over systems like in the original post. Without knowing the source of the claim that it's not linear, it's hard to rebut it.
      – Peter K.
      Nov 28 at 18:43












    • I can't resist pedantry here :) maybe $a$ and $b$ are elements of a non-additive magma?
      – Laurent Duval
      Nov 28 at 20:17






    • 1




      @LaurentDuval 😅😂🤣😜
      – Peter K.
      Nov 28 at 23:43














    • 4




      The system is just a two-tap FIR filter. So I wouldn't say it's affine. It would be affine (if one was willing to make that distinction) if it were something like $y[n]=ax[n]+b$, i.e., just adding a constant (like a non-zero initial condition). That would make it non-linear in a signals&systems context.
      – Matt L.
      Nov 28 at 17:26






    • 1




      Indeed, I have never heard about "being affine" in the ordinal variable.
      – Laurent Duval
      Nov 28 at 18:29










    • @MattL. Understood! I've just seen some mathematicians get their knickers in a twist over systems like in the original post. Without knowing the source of the claim that it's not linear, it's hard to rebut it.
      – Peter K.
      Nov 28 at 18:43












    • I can't resist pedantry here :) maybe $a$ and $b$ are elements of a non-additive magma?
      – Laurent Duval
      Nov 28 at 20:17






    • 1




      @LaurentDuval 😅😂🤣😜
      – Peter K.
      Nov 28 at 23:43








    4




    4




    The system is just a two-tap FIR filter. So I wouldn't say it's affine. It would be affine (if one was willing to make that distinction) if it were something like $y[n]=ax[n]+b$, i.e., just adding a constant (like a non-zero initial condition). That would make it non-linear in a signals&systems context.
    – Matt L.
    Nov 28 at 17:26




    The system is just a two-tap FIR filter. So I wouldn't say it's affine. It would be affine (if one was willing to make that distinction) if it were something like $y[n]=ax[n]+b$, i.e., just adding a constant (like a non-zero initial condition). That would make it non-linear in a signals&systems context.
    – Matt L.
    Nov 28 at 17:26




    1




    1




    Indeed, I have never heard about "being affine" in the ordinal variable.
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 18:29




    Indeed, I have never heard about "being affine" in the ordinal variable.
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 18:29












    @MattL. Understood! I've just seen some mathematicians get their knickers in a twist over systems like in the original post. Without knowing the source of the claim that it's not linear, it's hard to rebut it.
    – Peter K.
    Nov 28 at 18:43






    @MattL. Understood! I've just seen some mathematicians get their knickers in a twist over systems like in the original post. Without knowing the source of the claim that it's not linear, it's hard to rebut it.
    – Peter K.
    Nov 28 at 18:43














    I can't resist pedantry here :) maybe $a$ and $b$ are elements of a non-additive magma?
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 20:17




    I can't resist pedantry here :) maybe $a$ and $b$ are elements of a non-additive magma?
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 28 at 20:17




    1




    1




    @LaurentDuval 😅😂🤣😜
    – Peter K.
    Nov 28 at 23:43




    @LaurentDuval 😅😂🤣😜
    – Peter K.
    Nov 28 at 23:43










    up vote
    4
    down vote













    [Note: it may happen that a teacher makes a oral mistake, that puzzles the audience. So here is an alternative explanation on this system being non-something]



    This system is, as far as Peter K., Matt L. and I know, nicely linear. You already did the computations. With a little more work, among classical properties, it is also time-invariant, causal, stable.



    The only basic property it does not possess is "to be memoryless", unless one of the constant $a$ or $b$ (including both) is zero (see for instance an extended conception of a memoryless system from What is a memory less system?).






    share|improve this answer



















    • 2




      It's indeed linear and time-invariant, not affine. It would only be affine if in its output there were a constant term that is independent of the input signal, which is not the case here. It's just a plain FIR filter.
      – Matt L.
      Nov 28 at 20:42






    • 1




      hmm let me put a (n almost) verbatim copy of your answer and wait to see if I get any upvotes :-)) and see if it is only you ;-)
      – Fat32
      Nov 29 at 9:12








    • 1




      Go ahead and I'd suggest you to add the non-additive magma notion
      – Laurent Duval
      Nov 29 at 9:31















    up vote
    4
    down vote













    [Note: it may happen that a teacher makes a oral mistake, that puzzles the audience. So here is an alternative explanation on this system being non-something]



    This system is, as far as Peter K., Matt L. and I know, nicely linear. You already did the computations. With a little more work, among classical properties, it is also time-invariant, causal, stable.



    The only basic property it does not possess is "to be memoryless", unless one of the constant $a$ or $b$ (including both) is zero (see for instance an extended conception of a memoryless system from What is a memory less system?).






    share|improve this answer



















    • 2




      It's indeed linear and time-invariant, not affine. It would only be affine if in its output there were a constant term that is independent of the input signal, which is not the case here. It's just a plain FIR filter.
      – Matt L.
      Nov 28 at 20:42






    • 1




      hmm let me put a (n almost) verbatim copy of your answer and wait to see if I get any upvotes :-)) and see if it is only you ;-)
      – Fat32
      Nov 29 at 9:12








    • 1




      Go ahead and I'd suggest you to add the non-additive magma notion
      – Laurent Duval
      Nov 29 at 9:31













    up vote
    4
    down vote










    up vote
    4
    down vote









    [Note: it may happen that a teacher makes a oral mistake, that puzzles the audience. So here is an alternative explanation on this system being non-something]



    This system is, as far as Peter K., Matt L. and I know, nicely linear. You already did the computations. With a little more work, among classical properties, it is also time-invariant, causal, stable.



    The only basic property it does not possess is "to be memoryless", unless one of the constant $a$ or $b$ (including both) is zero (see for instance an extended conception of a memoryless system from What is a memory less system?).






    share|improve this answer














    [Note: it may happen that a teacher makes a oral mistake, that puzzles the audience. So here is an alternative explanation on this system being non-something]



    This system is, as far as Peter K., Matt L. and I know, nicely linear. You already did the computations. With a little more work, among classical properties, it is also time-invariant, causal, stable.



    The only basic property it does not possess is "to be memoryless", unless one of the constant $a$ or $b$ (including both) is zero (see for instance an extended conception of a memoryless system from What is a memory less system?).







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 2 days ago

























    answered Nov 28 at 19:44









    Laurent Duval

    16k32058




    16k32058








    • 2




      It's indeed linear and time-invariant, not affine. It would only be affine if in its output there were a constant term that is independent of the input signal, which is not the case here. It's just a plain FIR filter.
      – Matt L.
      Nov 28 at 20:42






    • 1




      hmm let me put a (n almost) verbatim copy of your answer and wait to see if I get any upvotes :-)) and see if it is only you ;-)
      – Fat32
      Nov 29 at 9:12








    • 1




      Go ahead and I'd suggest you to add the non-additive magma notion
      – Laurent Duval
      Nov 29 at 9:31














    • 2




      It's indeed linear and time-invariant, not affine. It would only be affine if in its output there were a constant term that is independent of the input signal, which is not the case here. It's just a plain FIR filter.
      – Matt L.
      Nov 28 at 20:42






    • 1




      hmm let me put a (n almost) verbatim copy of your answer and wait to see if I get any upvotes :-)) and see if it is only you ;-)
      – Fat32
      Nov 29 at 9:12








    • 1




      Go ahead and I'd suggest you to add the non-additive magma notion
      – Laurent Duval
      Nov 29 at 9:31








    2




    2




    It's indeed linear and time-invariant, not affine. It would only be affine if in its output there were a constant term that is independent of the input signal, which is not the case here. It's just a plain FIR filter.
    – Matt L.
    Nov 28 at 20:42




    It's indeed linear and time-invariant, not affine. It would only be affine if in its output there were a constant term that is independent of the input signal, which is not the case here. It's just a plain FIR filter.
    – Matt L.
    Nov 28 at 20:42




    1




    1




    hmm let me put a (n almost) verbatim copy of your answer and wait to see if I get any upvotes :-)) and see if it is only you ;-)
    – Fat32
    Nov 29 at 9:12






    hmm let me put a (n almost) verbatim copy of your answer and wait to see if I get any upvotes :-)) and see if it is only you ;-)
    – Fat32
    Nov 29 at 9:12






    1




    1




    Go ahead and I'd suggest you to add the non-additive magma notion
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 29 at 9:31




    Go ahead and I'd suggest you to add the non-additive magma notion
    – Laurent Duval
    Nov 29 at 9:31










    up vote
    2
    down vote













    A system $mathcal{T}$ is linear if its response to a weighted sum of two signals equals the weighted sum of its individual responses to those two input signals:



    $$mathcal{T}big{alpha x_1+beta x_2big}=alphamathcal{T}big{x_1big}+betamathcal{T}big{x_2big}tag{1}$$



    with arbitrary constants $alpha$ and $beta$, and arbitrary input sequences $x_1[n]$ and $x_2[n]$. A system $mathcal{T}$ satisfying $(1)$ is completely characterized by its impulse response $h[n]$, and its input-output relation can be formulated as a convolution of the input sequence with its impulse response:



    $$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=sum_{k=-infty}^{infty}h[k]x[n-k]tag{2}$$



    It is easily shown that the given system



    $$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=y[n]=ax[n]+bx[n-3]tag{3}$$



    satisfies $(1)$, and that it is characterized by the impulse response



    $$h[n]=adelta[n]+bdelta[n-3]tag{4}$$



    Clearly, its input-output relation $(3)$ can be written as a convolution sum $(2)$. Equivalently, the $mathcal{Z}$-transform of its response is given by the multiplication of the $mathcal{Z}$-transform of its input sequence and its transfer function $H(z)=mathcal{Z}{h[n]}$:



    $$Y(z)=X(z)H(z)tag{5}$$



    By contrast, an affine system does not satisfy $(1)$, and it cannot be characterized by an impulse response or, equivalently, by a transfer function. The given linear system $(3)$ could be made affine by adding a constant $c$ ($cneq 0$) to its output:



    $$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=y[n]=ax[n]+bx[n-3]+ctag{6}$$



    This input-output relation cannot be formulated in terms of a convolution $(2)$, and it can easily be checked that the system $(6)$ doesn't satisfy $(1)$. Such a system is not linear, since part of the output (the constant $c$) does not depend on the input signal $x[n]$.



    There is no reasonable definition of linearity according to which the given system $(3)$ could be classified as being non-linear.






    share|improve this answer

























      up vote
      2
      down vote













      A system $mathcal{T}$ is linear if its response to a weighted sum of two signals equals the weighted sum of its individual responses to those two input signals:



      $$mathcal{T}big{alpha x_1+beta x_2big}=alphamathcal{T}big{x_1big}+betamathcal{T}big{x_2big}tag{1}$$



      with arbitrary constants $alpha$ and $beta$, and arbitrary input sequences $x_1[n]$ and $x_2[n]$. A system $mathcal{T}$ satisfying $(1)$ is completely characterized by its impulse response $h[n]$, and its input-output relation can be formulated as a convolution of the input sequence with its impulse response:



      $$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=sum_{k=-infty}^{infty}h[k]x[n-k]tag{2}$$



      It is easily shown that the given system



      $$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=y[n]=ax[n]+bx[n-3]tag{3}$$



      satisfies $(1)$, and that it is characterized by the impulse response



      $$h[n]=adelta[n]+bdelta[n-3]tag{4}$$



      Clearly, its input-output relation $(3)$ can be written as a convolution sum $(2)$. Equivalently, the $mathcal{Z}$-transform of its response is given by the multiplication of the $mathcal{Z}$-transform of its input sequence and its transfer function $H(z)=mathcal{Z}{h[n]}$:



      $$Y(z)=X(z)H(z)tag{5}$$



      By contrast, an affine system does not satisfy $(1)$, and it cannot be characterized by an impulse response or, equivalently, by a transfer function. The given linear system $(3)$ could be made affine by adding a constant $c$ ($cneq 0$) to its output:



      $$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=y[n]=ax[n]+bx[n-3]+ctag{6}$$



      This input-output relation cannot be formulated in terms of a convolution $(2)$, and it can easily be checked that the system $(6)$ doesn't satisfy $(1)$. Such a system is not linear, since part of the output (the constant $c$) does not depend on the input signal $x[n]$.



      There is no reasonable definition of linearity according to which the given system $(3)$ could be classified as being non-linear.






      share|improve this answer























        up vote
        2
        down vote










        up vote
        2
        down vote









        A system $mathcal{T}$ is linear if its response to a weighted sum of two signals equals the weighted sum of its individual responses to those two input signals:



        $$mathcal{T}big{alpha x_1+beta x_2big}=alphamathcal{T}big{x_1big}+betamathcal{T}big{x_2big}tag{1}$$



        with arbitrary constants $alpha$ and $beta$, and arbitrary input sequences $x_1[n]$ and $x_2[n]$. A system $mathcal{T}$ satisfying $(1)$ is completely characterized by its impulse response $h[n]$, and its input-output relation can be formulated as a convolution of the input sequence with its impulse response:



        $$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=sum_{k=-infty}^{infty}h[k]x[n-k]tag{2}$$



        It is easily shown that the given system



        $$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=y[n]=ax[n]+bx[n-3]tag{3}$$



        satisfies $(1)$, and that it is characterized by the impulse response



        $$h[n]=adelta[n]+bdelta[n-3]tag{4}$$



        Clearly, its input-output relation $(3)$ can be written as a convolution sum $(2)$. Equivalently, the $mathcal{Z}$-transform of its response is given by the multiplication of the $mathcal{Z}$-transform of its input sequence and its transfer function $H(z)=mathcal{Z}{h[n]}$:



        $$Y(z)=X(z)H(z)tag{5}$$



        By contrast, an affine system does not satisfy $(1)$, and it cannot be characterized by an impulse response or, equivalently, by a transfer function. The given linear system $(3)$ could be made affine by adding a constant $c$ ($cneq 0$) to its output:



        $$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=y[n]=ax[n]+bx[n-3]+ctag{6}$$



        This input-output relation cannot be formulated in terms of a convolution $(2)$, and it can easily be checked that the system $(6)$ doesn't satisfy $(1)$. Such a system is not linear, since part of the output (the constant $c$) does not depend on the input signal $x[n]$.



        There is no reasonable definition of linearity according to which the given system $(3)$ could be classified as being non-linear.






        share|improve this answer












        A system $mathcal{T}$ is linear if its response to a weighted sum of two signals equals the weighted sum of its individual responses to those two input signals:



        $$mathcal{T}big{alpha x_1+beta x_2big}=alphamathcal{T}big{x_1big}+betamathcal{T}big{x_2big}tag{1}$$



        with arbitrary constants $alpha$ and $beta$, and arbitrary input sequences $x_1[n]$ and $x_2[n]$. A system $mathcal{T}$ satisfying $(1)$ is completely characterized by its impulse response $h[n]$, and its input-output relation can be formulated as a convolution of the input sequence with its impulse response:



        $$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=sum_{k=-infty}^{infty}h[k]x[n-k]tag{2}$$



        It is easily shown that the given system



        $$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=y[n]=ax[n]+bx[n-3]tag{3}$$



        satisfies $(1)$, and that it is characterized by the impulse response



        $$h[n]=adelta[n]+bdelta[n-3]tag{4}$$



        Clearly, its input-output relation $(3)$ can be written as a convolution sum $(2)$. Equivalently, the $mathcal{Z}$-transform of its response is given by the multiplication of the $mathcal{Z}$-transform of its input sequence and its transfer function $H(z)=mathcal{Z}{h[n]}$:



        $$Y(z)=X(z)H(z)tag{5}$$



        By contrast, an affine system does not satisfy $(1)$, and it cannot be characterized by an impulse response or, equivalently, by a transfer function. The given linear system $(3)$ could be made affine by adding a constant $c$ ($cneq 0$) to its output:



        $$mathcal{T}big{xbig}=y[n]=ax[n]+bx[n-3]+ctag{6}$$



        This input-output relation cannot be formulated in terms of a convolution $(2)$, and it can easily be checked that the system $(6)$ doesn't satisfy $(1)$. Such a system is not linear, since part of the output (the constant $c$) does not depend on the input signal $x[n]$.



        There is no reasonable definition of linearity according to which the given system $(3)$ could be classified as being non-linear.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Nov 28 at 21:32









        Matt L.

        48.1k13683




        48.1k13683






















            up vote
            -1
            down vote













            This system is, as far as Peter K., Laurent, and I know, nicely linear. It is also time-invariant, causal, and stable. Indeed it's LTI with impulse response $h[n] = a delta[n] + b delta[n-3]$.



            The only basic property it does not possess is "to be memoryless", unless $a$ or $b$ is zero (see for instance an extended version from What is a memory less system?).






            share|improve this answer





















            • Maybe you need another folk copying your answer to get the first vote
              – Laurent Duval
              Nov 29 at 19:37










            • @LaurentDuval 12 hours after the post and zero upvotes ! this's a disaster ! I should have been quick to copy (before you) PeterK instead ;-))
              – Fat32
              Nov 29 at 22:02










            • @LaurentDuval you see my copy is downvoted, whereas your copy is upvoted ;-)) this is plain injustice !
              – Fat32
              Dec 1 at 0:19










            • Sometimes, less is more. Lo siento
              – Laurent Duval
              2 days ago















            up vote
            -1
            down vote













            This system is, as far as Peter K., Laurent, and I know, nicely linear. It is also time-invariant, causal, and stable. Indeed it's LTI with impulse response $h[n] = a delta[n] + b delta[n-3]$.



            The only basic property it does not possess is "to be memoryless", unless $a$ or $b$ is zero (see for instance an extended version from What is a memory less system?).






            share|improve this answer





















            • Maybe you need another folk copying your answer to get the first vote
              – Laurent Duval
              Nov 29 at 19:37










            • @LaurentDuval 12 hours after the post and zero upvotes ! this's a disaster ! I should have been quick to copy (before you) PeterK instead ;-))
              – Fat32
              Nov 29 at 22:02










            • @LaurentDuval you see my copy is downvoted, whereas your copy is upvoted ;-)) this is plain injustice !
              – Fat32
              Dec 1 at 0:19










            • Sometimes, less is more. Lo siento
              – Laurent Duval
              2 days ago













            up vote
            -1
            down vote










            up vote
            -1
            down vote









            This system is, as far as Peter K., Laurent, and I know, nicely linear. It is also time-invariant, causal, and stable. Indeed it's LTI with impulse response $h[n] = a delta[n] + b delta[n-3]$.



            The only basic property it does not possess is "to be memoryless", unless $a$ or $b$ is zero (see for instance an extended version from What is a memory less system?).






            share|improve this answer












            This system is, as far as Peter K., Laurent, and I know, nicely linear. It is also time-invariant, causal, and stable. Indeed it's LTI with impulse response $h[n] = a delta[n] + b delta[n-3]$.



            The only basic property it does not possess is "to be memoryless", unless $a$ or $b$ is zero (see for instance an extended version from What is a memory less system?).







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Nov 29 at 9:09









            Fat32

            13.9k31128




            13.9k31128












            • Maybe you need another folk copying your answer to get the first vote
              – Laurent Duval
              Nov 29 at 19:37










            • @LaurentDuval 12 hours after the post and zero upvotes ! this's a disaster ! I should have been quick to copy (before you) PeterK instead ;-))
              – Fat32
              Nov 29 at 22:02










            • @LaurentDuval you see my copy is downvoted, whereas your copy is upvoted ;-)) this is plain injustice !
              – Fat32
              Dec 1 at 0:19










            • Sometimes, less is more. Lo siento
              – Laurent Duval
              2 days ago


















            • Maybe you need another folk copying your answer to get the first vote
              – Laurent Duval
              Nov 29 at 19:37










            • @LaurentDuval 12 hours after the post and zero upvotes ! this's a disaster ! I should have been quick to copy (before you) PeterK instead ;-))
              – Fat32
              Nov 29 at 22:02










            • @LaurentDuval you see my copy is downvoted, whereas your copy is upvoted ;-)) this is plain injustice !
              – Fat32
              Dec 1 at 0:19










            • Sometimes, less is more. Lo siento
              – Laurent Duval
              2 days ago
















            Maybe you need another folk copying your answer to get the first vote
            – Laurent Duval
            Nov 29 at 19:37




            Maybe you need another folk copying your answer to get the first vote
            – Laurent Duval
            Nov 29 at 19:37












            @LaurentDuval 12 hours after the post and zero upvotes ! this's a disaster ! I should have been quick to copy (before you) PeterK instead ;-))
            – Fat32
            Nov 29 at 22:02




            @LaurentDuval 12 hours after the post and zero upvotes ! this's a disaster ! I should have been quick to copy (before you) PeterK instead ;-))
            – Fat32
            Nov 29 at 22:02












            @LaurentDuval you see my copy is downvoted, whereas your copy is upvoted ;-)) this is plain injustice !
            – Fat32
            Dec 1 at 0:19




            @LaurentDuval you see my copy is downvoted, whereas your copy is upvoted ;-)) this is plain injustice !
            – Fat32
            Dec 1 at 0:19












            Sometimes, less is more. Lo siento
            – Laurent Duval
            2 days ago




            Sometimes, less is more. Lo siento
            – Laurent Duval
            2 days ago


















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