Determine if each system is causal and stable.

A

h[n] = (1/5)$ ^n $ u[n]

For n < 0 h[n] = 0 therefore h[n] is causal.

$ \Sigma_{n=0}^\infty $ (1/5)$ ^n $ < $ \infty $ since lim$ _{n->\infty} $ = 0

The system is both causal and stable.

B

h[n] = (0.8)$ ^n $ u[n+2]

Since u[n+2] = 1 for n >= -2 and 0 for n < -2 the system is not causal because h[n] $ \neq $ 0 for t < 0.

$ \Sigma_{n = -2}^\infty $ (0.8)$ ^n $ < $ \infty $ since lim$ _{n->\infty} (0.8)<math>^n $ = 0 the system is stable.

The system is not causal and stable.

D

h[n] = 5$ ^n $u[3-n]

Since u[3-n] = 1 for n <= 3 and 0 for n > 3, h[n] $ \neq $ 0 for t < 0.

$ \Sigma_{-\infty}^\infty 5^n u[3-n] = \Sigma_{-\infty}^3 5^n < \infty $, therefore the system is stable.

This system is stable but not causal.

Alumni Liaison

Ph.D. 2007, working on developing cool imaging technologies for digital cameras, camera phones, and video surveillance cameras.

Buyue Zhang