A time invariant system is a system that for any x(t) that goes into the system and has an output y(t) has the same response as a shifted input x(t-T) which has an output of the system of y(t-T).

Time Invariant System

Let the system be: y(t) = e^t * x(t)


Justify: Let T = 3

And x(t) = 2t+1


Then the graph of e^t * x(t) = e^3 * (2t+1) is the same as

e^(t-3)*x(t-3) = e^(t-3) * (2(t-3)+1) only the second graph is shifted by 3 units.

Time Variant System

Let the system be:

y(t) = x(2t)


Justify:

Let T=3 again

and x(t) = 2t+1 again


Then the graph of x(2t) = 4t+1

And the graph of x(2t-3) = 2(2t-3)+1 = 4t-5

The second graph is a completely different graph, not the original shifted along the horizontal axis. Therefore this system is not time invariant.

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