(Linear System)
(Nonlinear System)
Line 48: Line 48:
 
<math>A*y1(t)</math> -> [SYSTEM] -> (A(1+t))^3</math>
 
<math>A*y1(t)</math> -> [SYSTEM] -> (A(1+t))^3</math>
  
<math>B*y2(t)</math> -> [System] -> (B*e^t)^3</math>
+
<math>B*y2(t)</math> -> [SYSTEM] -> (B*e^t)^3</math>
  
 
Sum these and you get
 
Sum these and you get

Revision as of 14:07, 11 September 2008

Definition

A system is linear if two specific inputs yield two specific outputs, and if you multiply the inputs by constants and then run them through the system and sum the result it yields the same result as running them through the system, multiplying the outputs by those same constants, then adding the result together.

Linear System

I'll choose the system $ x(t) = y(t^2) $ Let's choose $ A=2 $, $ B=3 $, $ y1(t)=1+t $, and $ y2(t)=e^t $

$ A*y1(t) $ -> [SYSTEM] -> $ 2(1+t^2) $

$ B*y2(t) $ -> [SYSTEM] -> $ 3(e^{t^2}) $

sum these and you get

$ 2+2t^2 + 3e^{t^2} $

Now,

$ y1(t) $ -> [SYSTEM] -> A*result -> $ (1+t^2)*2 $

$ y2(t) $ -> [SYSTEM] -> B*result -> $ (e^{t^2})*3 $

sum these and you get

$ 2+2t^2+3e^{t^2} $

which is the same output as before, so the system is linear.

Nonlinear System

For an example of a nonlinear system, I will use one that APPEARS very close to the one I used for a linear system.

The system $ x(t)=y(t)^3 $

We will use the same A, B, y1(t) and y2(t).

$ y1(t) $ -> [SYSTEM] -> A*result -> $ A*(1+t)^3 $

$ y2(t) $ -> [SYSTEM] -> B*result -> $ B*(e^t)^3 $

Sum these and you get

$ A*(1+t)^3+B*(e^t)^3 $

Now,

$ A*y1(t) $ -> [SYSTEM] -> (A(1+t))^3</math>

$ B*y2(t) $ -> [SYSTEM] -> (B*e^t)^3</math>

Sum these and you get

$ A^3(1+t)^3 + B^3(e^t)^3 $

These two results are clearly not equal, thus the system is not linear (even though it looked very similar to the linear system that I demonstrated before)

Alumni Liaison

Correspondence Chess Grandmaster and Purdue Alumni

Prof. Dan Fleetwood