MATH 267

Due: March 7, 2012, in the class

ASSIGNMENT # 7

You have FIVE problems to hand-in. Hand in written solutions for grading at the BEGINNING of the
lecture on the due date. Illegible, disorganized or partial solutions will receive no credit.

*Staple your HW. You will get F IV E marks OFF if you do not staple your HW! Note that
the instructor will NOT provide stapler.
Note: throughout the assignment, the function u(t) denotes the unit step function:

1, t 0
u(t) =
0, t < 0
Also, in the following problems, feel free to use properties of Fourier Transform / Fourier Inversion and standard
examples, e.g. Fourier transforms of eat u(t) (for a > 0) and rect(t).
1. (Scaling, time-shift, duality, differentiation)
(a) Find Fourier transform of

t + 1, 1 t 1/2;
f (t) = t,
1/2 t 0;

0,
otherwise.
(Hint: This is similar to one of class examples about differentiation rule for Fourier transform.)
Solution : Note that
d
f (t) = rect(2(t + 3/4)) rect(2(t + 1/4)).
dt
[For this, do first the scaling of the class example (scale by 1/2) and do the appropriate time-shift
(by -1/4). ]
Therefore, the Fourier transform
F[

d
f (t)]() = F[rect(2(t + 3/4)) rect(2(t + 1/4))]()
dt
= F[rect(2(t + 3/4))]() F[rect(2(t + 1/4))]()
i3/4

=e

F[rect(2t)]() e

i/4

(by linearity of F.T.)

F[rect(2t)]()

(by time-shift property: practically it can be better to do this step first before handling scaling.)
= [ei3/4 ei/4 ]F[rect(2t)]()
1
= [ei3/4 ei/4 ] F[rect(t)](/2)
(by scaling property)
2
1
= [ei3/4 ei/4 ]sinc(/4) (see /4 in sinc instead of /2!)
2
ei/2 i/4
=
[e
ei/4 ]sinc(/4)
2
= iei/2 sin(/4)sinc(/4)
d
But, on the other hand F[ dt
f (t)]() = iF[f (t)]() by the differentiation rule.
Therefore, for 6= 0, we see

1 i/2
ie
sin(/4)sinc(/4)
i
ei/2
=
sinc(/4)sinc(/4)
4
ei/2
=
[sinc(/4)]2
4

F[f (t)]() =

For = 0, we can directly compute the integral

Z
Z
f (t)ei0t dt =
F[f (t)](0) =
ei0/2
2
4 [sinc(0/4)]

f (t)dt = 1/4

(Note that when = 0,

= 1/4.) Therefore, we have

F[f (t)]() =

ei/2
[sinc(/4)]2 .
4

(b) Find Fourier transform of

t + 2, 2 t 1;
f (t) = t,
1 t 0;

0,
otherwise.
(Hint: Use (a) and scaling property of Fourier transform.)
Solution
Let f1 (t) denote the function f (t) in part (a). Now for f (t) in this part (b), we see that

f (t) = 2f1 (t/2).

Therefore,
F[f (t)]() = 22F[f (1 (t)](2)
So, we have
i

e
fb() = 4
[sinc(/2)]2
4
= ei [sinc(/2)]2

Remark: In fact, it can be easier to do this part (b) first and to use this to do part (a). The
function in part (b) is nothing but a time-shift of the class example and the function in part (a) is
the scaled function of the function in part (b) by scale factor 1/2.
(c) Let f (t) = e|t| .
i. Find fb(). (Hint: this is a class example. You can use the result for et u(t) and apply properties
of Fourier transform: here time-reversal property is relevant.)
Solution Let
f0 (t) = et u(t)
Note that F[f0 (t)]() =
can write

1
i+1

( this is one of the standard example given in the class). Now, we

f (t) = f0 (t) + f0 (t).

Therefore,
F[f (t)]() = F[f0 (t)]() + F(f0 (t)]()
= F[f0 (t)]() + F(f0 (t)]()
(used time-reversal property F[g(t)]() = F[g(t)]().)

Therefore,
1
1
+
i + 1 i + 1
2
= 2
+1

F[f (t)]() =

ii. Use part (i) and the duality property to find the Fourier transform gb() of the function
g(t) =

1 1
1 + t2

Solution See http://www.iam.ubc.ca/sospedra/a7MATH267-sol.pdf, #1 (b).

2. (Differentiation in frequency)
(a) Prove the following:
d b
if g(t) = tf (t) then gb() = i d
f ()

(Hint: differentiate the definition (I mean, the integral) of fb() with respect to : i.e.
Z
d b
d
f () =
f (t) eit dt. )
d
d

Solution See http://www.iam.ubc.ca/sospedra/a7MATH267-sol.pdf, #2 (a).

(b) Use (a) to show
if gb() =

d b
d f (),

then g(t) = itf (t)

(Here, use the fact that if fb1 () = fb2 () then f1 (t) = f2 (t). In other words, the Fourier transform
fb() determine the original function f (t).)
Solution See http://www.iam.ubc.ca/sospedra/a7MATH267-sol.pdf, #2 (a).
(c) Using the frequency differentiation property in part (a), compute the Fourier transform of:
(i) f (t) = t rect(t)
Solution See http://www.iam.ubc.ca/sospedra/a7MATH267-sol.pdf, #2 (b).
(ii) g(t) = t2 e3t u(t) (Hint: you can apply the frequency differentiation property twice.)
Solution See http://www.iam.ubc.ca/sospedra/a7MATH267-sol.pdf, #2 (b).
(d) [Fourier inversion] For a real nonzero constant a, find the function g(t) if
gb() =

1
(i + a)2

(Hint: You can use (b). Can you express gb() as a -derivative of certain function? )
Solution Observe that

1
d h 1 i
=
d i + a
(i + a)2

Also, note that

F[eat u(t)]() =

1
i + a

Therefore, by part (a) (or (b))

g(t) = teat u(t).

3. (RLC circuit) Consider the ODE for RLC circuit:

LCy 00 (t) + RCy 0 (t) + y(t) = x(t)
(a) Let R = 4, L = 3, C = 1 and x
b() = 1. Find y(t) using Fourier transform method.
Solution The left-hand side is 3y 00 (t) + 4y 0 (t) + y(t). Thus, the Fourier transform gives
3 2 yb() + 4ib
y () + yb() = x
b().
Therefore,
1
x
b()
3 2 + 4i + 1
1
(since we assumed w()
b
= 1. )
=
2
3 + 4i + 1

yb() =

Note that 3 2 + 4i + 1 = (3i + 1)(i + 1) Now, by partial fraction,

1
1
=
3 2 + 4i + 1
(3i + 1)(i + 1)
A
B
=
+
.
3i + 1 i + 1
Here, A and B are determined by
A(i + 1) + B(3i + 1) = 1
(A + 3B)i + A + B = 1
Comparing the real and imaginary parts, we get,
A + 3B = 0

A+B =1

Therefore, B = 21 , A = 32 . Thus,
yb() =

1
3
1
=

3 2 + 4i + 1
2(3i + 1) 2(i + 1)

Now, for the Fourier inversion y(t) = F 1 [b

y ()](t),
i
1
3

(t)
2(3i + 1) 2(i + 1)
h 1 i
h 1 i
3
1
= F 1
(t) F 1
(t)
2
3i + 1
2
i + 1
h
i
h 1 i
1
1
1
= F 1
(t) F 1
(t)
2
i + 1/3
2
i + 1
1
1
= et/3 u(t) et u(t).
2
2

y(t) = F 1

(b) Let R = 2, L = 1, C = 1 and x

b() = 1. Find y(t) using Fourier transform method. (Hint: You may
want to use Problem 2 (d). )
Solution The left-hand side is y 00 (t) + 2y 0 (t) + y(t). Thus, the Fourier transform gives
2 yb() + 2ib
y () + yb() = x
b().
Therefore,
1
x
b()
2 + 2i + 1
1
=
(since we assumed w()
b
= 1. )
2 + 2i + 1
1
=
(i + 1)2

yb() =

Now use the result of Problem 2 (d), to get

y(t) = tet u(t).
(c) Let R = 4, L = 3, C = 1 and x(t) = u(t)e2t . (Note u(t) is defined in the beginning of the HW).
Find y(t) using Fourier transform method.
Solution The left-hand side is 3y 00 (t) + 4y 0 (t) + y(t). Thus, the Fourier transform gives
3 2 yb() + 4ib
y () + yb() = x
b().
Therefore,
yb() =

3 2

1
x
b()
+ 4i + 1

Now, from our class example,

1
i + 2

x
b() = F[e2t u(t)]() =
Therefore,

1
1
3 2 + 4i + 1 i + 2
1
=
(3i + 1)(i + 1)(i + 2)

yb() =

(Note that 3 2 + 4i + 1 = (3i + 1)(i + 2) )

Now, by partial fraction,
yb() =

A
B
C
+
+
.
3i + 1 i + 1 i + 2

Here, A, B and C are determined by

A(i + 1)(i + 2) + B(3i + 1)(i + 2) + C(3i + 1)(i + 1) = 1
The left hand side is simplified by

A(i + 1)(i + 2) + B(3i + 1)(i + 2) + C(3i + 1)(i + 1)

= A( 2 + 3i + 2) + B(3 2 + 7i + 2) + C(3 2 + 4i + 1)
= (A + 3B + 3C) 2 + (3A + 7B + 4C)i + 2A + 2B + C
Comparing the last line with 1 (since they should be the same as functions of ), we have,
A + 3B + 3C = 0

3A + 7B + 4C = 0

2A + 2B + C = 1

Therefore,
B = 1/2,

A = 9/10,

C = 1/5

Therefore,

yb() =

1
1 1
1 1
9

+
.
10 3i + 1 2 i + 1 5 i + 2

Therefore,
5

h
i
 1 
 1 
1
1
9 1  1 
(t) F 1
(t) + F 1
(t)
y(t) = F 1 yb() (t) =
F
10
3i + 1
2
i + 1
5
i + 2

 1 
 1 
9 1 
1
1
1
=
F
(t) F 1
(t) + F 1
(t)
30
i + 1/3
2
i + 1
5
i + 2
3 t/3
1
1
=
e
u(t) et u(t) + e2t u(t)
(by using the standard example eat u(t))
10
2
5
i
h3
1
1
= u(t)
et/3 et + e2t
10
2
5
4. (Fourier Inversion) In the following use properties of Fourier transform/inversion.
(a) fb() = sinc( + 1).
d
Solution Recall rect()
= sinc(/2). Also, recall the frequency-shift property and the scaling
property.
First, by the frequency-shift, for the inverse Fourier transform F 1 ,

Note that sinc =

1
2

F 1 [sinc( + 1)](t) = eit F 1 [sinc()](t).

2sinc(2/2) , thus, by linearity and scaling property,


1
2sinc(2/2) ](t)
2


1 1
= F [ 2sinc(2/2) ](t)
2
1
= F 1 [sinc(/2)](t/2)
2
1
= rect(t/2)
2

F 1 [sinc()](t) = F 1 [

(by linearity)
(by scailing)

Therefore,
eit
1
rect(t/2)
f (t) = F 1 [sinc( + 1)](t) = eit rect(t/2) =
2
2
i.e.
(
f (t) = F

[sinc( + 1)](t) =

eit
2 ,

0,

1 < t < 1;
otherwise.

d
b
(b) Suppose that a function (t) satisfies ()
= 1 and suppose dt
u(t) = (t), where u(t) is the unit step
function defined in the beginning of the assignment. Express the inverse Fourier transform of

b
h() = sin()
using (t) as well as its time-shift and scaling. (Hint: Find the relation to sinc function. Then, try
to use properties of Fourier transform. You may have to express a rectangular function using the
function u(t). For example, rect(t) = u(t + 1/2) u(t 1/2). We will learn on Monday, what such
function (t) is.)
Solution
There are two methods.
First method (harder)
Realize that b
h() = sinc(). By the differentiation rule for the Fourier transform, if we let
F[k(t)]() = sinc(), then,
i sinc() = F[

d
k(t)]()
dt

Remark: In other words,

i sinc() = F

ii
hdh
F 1 [sinc()](t) (t).
dt

The above shows that

h(t) =

1 d
k(t).
i dt

for F[k(t)]() = sinc().

d
= sinc(/2). Therefore, by
Now, for k(t), notice that sin = 12 2 sinc(2/2). Also, note that rect()
scaling property,
k(t) =

1
rect(t/2).
2

Here, it is convenient to notice that rect(t/2) = u(t + 1) u(t 1). (See the remark below.) Thus,
i
1h
k(t) = u(t + 1) u(t 1) .
2
Therefore,
i
1 d
1hd
d
k(t) =
u(t + 1) u(t 1)
i dt
2i dt
dt
i
1h
(t + 1) (t 1)
=
2i

h(t) =

Remark: This problem canh be harder if iyou doh not realize rect(t/2)
= u(t + 1) u(t 1). In that
i
d
d
case, you have to handle dt u(t/2 + 1/2) dt u(t/2 1/2) . We can still do this. For example,
+ 1/2) = 12 (t/2 + 1/2) by the chain rule. Here, (t/2 + 1/2) = ( 21 (t + 1)) is the time-shift
of (t/2) by 1. We now have to note that (t/2) = 2(t). This can be verified by using the scailing
property of the Fourier transform,
d
dt u(t/2

F[(t/2)]() = 2F[(t)](2) = 2

(because F[(t)]() = 1)

By the inverse Fourier transform, this shows (t/2) = 2(t).

h
i
h
i
d
d
Therefore, dt
u(t/2 + 1/2) = (t + 1), similarly dt
u(t/2 1/2) = (t 1). Using this we get the
same result as in the given solution. //
1 i
[e ei ]. Then, for the inverse Fourier
Second method (easier) Notice that sin() = 2i
1
transform F ,
h1
i
F 1 [sin ](t) = F 1
[ei ei ]
2i
i
1 h 1 i
=
F [e ] F 1 [ei ]
2i

Now, notice that by the time-shift property,

F 1 [ei ] = F 1 [1](t + 1)

F 1 [ei ] = F 1 [1](t 1)

Since F 1 [1](t) = (t), we have

F 1 [ei ] = (t + 1)

F 1 [ei ] = (t 1)

Back to the original problem, we see

h(t) = F 1 [sin ](t) =

1
[(t + 1) (t 1)]
2i

(c) Use the same function (t) as in part (b) to express the inverse Fourier transform of
gb() = sin(5 + /6).
(Hint: Use (b).)
Solution
We can use the result of part (b). Note that sin(5 + /6) = 15 [5 sin(5( + /30))] (this latter
expression is more convenient for using the frequency shifting and scaling property). For the inverse
Fourier transform F 1 , we see
F 1 [sin(5 + /6)](t)
1
= F 1 [5 sin(5( + /30))](t)
5
1
= eit/30 F 1 [5 sin(5)](t)
(frequency scaling)
5
1
= eit/30 F 1 [sin()](t/5)
(by scaling)
5
1
1
( by using part (b))
= eit/30 [(t/5 + 1) (t/5 1)]
5
2i




1 it/30
=
e
[ t/5 + 1 t/5 1 ]
10i
5. (Convolution) We will work out a couple of examples in class on Monday.
Consider the functions

2, 2 t < 0
1, 0 t < 4
f (t) =

0, otherwise

1, 1 t < 0
g(t) =
0, otherwise
and h(t) = (f g)(t)
(a) Find h(t) and draw an accurate graph of this function on the interval 4 t 5. Hint: You should
obtain a collection of straight line segments.
Solution See http://www.iam.ubc.ca/sospedra/a7MATH267-sol.pdf, #3 (a).
\
(b) Find b
h(). Hint: Use the convolution property, (f
g)() = fb()b
g ().
Solution See http://www.iam.ubc.ca/sospedra/a7MATH267-sol.pdf, #3 (b).
(c) Compute the integral
1
2

  3
fb()sinc
ei 2 d
2

(Hint: First, realize sinc(/2) as Fourier transform of a function. Then, see what this integral
means: it is the inverse Fourier transform of a certain function. At what t? Then, use a property of
convolution. )
Solution See http://www.iam.ubc.ca/sospedra/a7MATH267-sol.pdf, #3 (c).
6. (NOT TO HAND IN)
Recall that the convolution of two functions f and g is the function f g defined by
Z
(f g) (t) =
f (s)g(t s)ds

\
and that (f
g)() = fb()b
g (). Justify the following properties of the convolution:
(a) f g = g f
Solution See http://www.iam.ubc.ca/sospedra/a7MATH267-sol.pdf, #6.
8

(b) For constants A1 and A2 , we have (A1 f1 + A2 f2 ) g = A1 (f1 g) + A2 (f2 g)

Solution See http://www.iam.ubc.ca/sospedra/a7MATH267-sol.pdf, #6.
(c) (f1 f2 ) f3 = f1 (f2 f3 )
Solution See http://www.iam.ubc.ca/sospedra/a7MATH267-sol.pdf, #6.
*Staple your HW. You will get F IV E marks OFF if you do not staple your HW! Note that
the instructor will NOT provide stapler.