- Digital Signal Processing Tutorial
- DSP - Home
- DSP - Signals-Definition
- DSP - Basic CT Signals
- DSP - Basic DT Signals
- DSP - Classification of CT Signals
- DSP - Classification of DT Signals
- DSP - Miscellaneous Signals
- Operations on Signals
- Operations Signals - Shifting
- Operations Signals - Scaling
- Operations Signals - Reversal
- Operations Signals - Differentiation
- Operations Signals - Integration
- Operations Signals - Convolution
- Basic System Properties
- DSP - Static Systems
- DSP - Dynamic Systems
- DSP - Causal Systems
- DSP - Non-Causal Systems
- DSP - Anti-Causal Systems
- DSP - Linear Systems
- DSP - Non-Linear Systems
- DSP - Time-Invariant Systems
- DSP - Time-Variant Systems
- DSP - Stable Systems
- DSP - Unstable Systems
- DSP - Solved Examples
- Z-Transform
- Z-Transform - Introduction
- Z-Transform - Properties
- Z-Transform - Existence
- Z-Transform - Inverse
- Z-Transform - Solved Examples
- Discrete Fourier Transform
- DFT - Introduction
- DFT - Time Frequency Transform
- DTF - Circular Convolution
- DFT - Linear Filtering
- DFT - Sectional Convolution
- DFT - Discrete Cosine Transform
- DFT - Solved Examples
- Fast Fourier Transform
- DSP - Fast Fourier Transform
- DSP - In-Place Computation
- DSP - Computer Aided Design
- Digital Signal Processing Resources
- DSP - Quick Guide
- DSP - Useful Resources
- DSP - Discussion
Digital Signal Processing - Linear Systems
A linear system follows the laws of superposition. This law is necessary and sufficient condition to prove the linearity of the system. Apart from this, the system is a combination of two types of laws −
- Law of additivity
- Law of homogeneity
Both, the law of homogeneity and the law of additivity are shown in the above figures. However, there are some other conditions to check whether the system is linear or not.
The conditions are −
- The output should be zero for zero input.
- There should not be any non-linear operator present in the system.
Examples of non-linear operators −
(a) Trigonometric operators- Sin, Cos, Tan, Cot, Sec, Cosec etc.
(b) Exponential, logarithmic, modulus, square, Cube etc.
(c) sa(i/p) , Sinc (i/p) , Sqn (i/p) etc.
Either input x or output y should not have these non-linear operators.
Examples
Let us find out whether the following systems are linear.
a) $y(t) = x(t)+3$
This system is not a linear system because it violates the first condition. If we put input as zero, making x(t) = 0, then the output is not zero.
b) $y(t) = \sin tx(t)$
In this system, if we give input as zero, the output will become zero. Hence, the first condition is clearly satisfied. Again, there is no non-linear operator that has been applied on x(t). Hence, second condition is also satisfied. Therefore, the system is a linear system.
c) $y(t) = \sin (x(t))$
In the above system, first condition is satisfied because if we put x(t) = 0, the output will also be sin(0) = 0. However, the second condition is not satisfied, as there is a non-linear operator which operates x(t). Hence, the system is not linear.