Revision as of 10:07, 11 September 2008 by Zcurosh (Talk)

Part C. Linearity

If, for any two inputs, x1(t) and x2(t), you can apply each to a system to produce y1(t) and y2(t) respectively, then multiply each y(t) by a constant complex number, called a and b respectively, then add ay1(t)+by2(t) to produce a final output z(t). Then, if you again take x1(t) and x2(t), but this time first multiply each by a and b respectively, where a and b are again constant complex numbers, then add ax1(t)+bx2(t) and apply this input to the system to get an output w(t). If z(t)=w(t), then this system can be called a linear system.

Example of a Linear System

Suppose a system produces the output y(t)=2x(t-1)

Alumni Liaison

Abstract algebra continues the conceptual developments of linear algebra, on an even grander scale.

Dr. Paul Garrett