Practical Signals Theory with MATLAB Applications, 2nd Edition

Preface

The title Practical Signals Theory underscores the reality that engineers use mathematics as a tool for practical ends, often to gain a better understanding of the behavior of the world around them and just as often simply to save time and work. True to this notion, signals theory offers both a means to model complex real-world systems using consistent mathematical methods and a way to avoid tedious manipulations by leveraging the efforts of mathematicians and engineers who have already done it the hard way. Thus, signals theory includes the famous transformations named after Fourier and Laplace, designed to view real systems from advantageous new perspectives. Frequency and phase responses are easily sketched with pencil and ruler, following in the footsteps of Bode, and modern digital signal processing owes a debt to Nyquist. Moreover, in every equation or formula, there is a clue that relates to something real and that may already be very familiar.

Practical Signals Theory was written specifically to present the essential mathematics of signals and systems through an intuitive and graphical approach in which theory and principles emerge naturally from the observed behavior of familiar systems. To this end, new theorems are accompanied by real-world examples, graphical demonstrations, and encouragement to check results for consistency. From the first pages, even the most basic mathematical relationships are re-examined in a way that will lend their use to the practical ...