Chapter V

The Z transform
Abdelhamid DAAMOUCHE,
University M’hamed Bougara, Boumerdes

1
 Reading
• Read the following sections in your textbook:
• A. V. Oppenheim et al. « Signals and Systems», Second Edition, Pearson
new international edition, 2014.
• Chapter 10
• Sections 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.9

2
 Introduction
• The Z-transform can be viewed as a
generalization of the DTFT.
• Many signals do not have a DTFT (e.g., u[n]).
• The Z-transform converts constant
conefficients linear difference equations into
algebraic equations
• Systems properties (stability, causality) are
easier to handle in the Z-domain

3
 Definition
• The Z transform of a discrete-time sequence is
defined as
, z is a complex variable
n
• X ( z) x[ n ] z
n

• Using the polar form representation of z, we

get n
X (z) x[ n ] r e j ( x[ n ]r n ) e - j n
F x[ n ]r n

n n

• For r=1,
X ( z) z ej
X (e j )

4
 Examples
• Example 1:Determine the z transform of the signal
. x[ n ] a n u [ n ]
• Answer: X ( z ) n
x[ n ] z n
a zn
(a z ) 1 n

n n 0 n 0

• For X(z) to converge, we need a z 1 1 z a

1 z
• Then X ( z )
1 az 1 z a
• We say that the region
• of convergence (ROC)
• is z a
• In the plot a<1

5
 Examples
• Example 2:Determine the z transform of the signal
x[n] a nu[ n 1]
1
• Answer: X ( z ) x[ n ] z n
anz n
(a 1 z ) n
• For X(z) to converge, we need
n n n 1

a 1z 1 z a

a 1z 1
X (z)
1 a 1z 1 az 1

• We say that the region

• of convergence (ROC) is
z a
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 Examples
• In examples 1 and 2, though the two
sequences are different, their z-transform
algebraic expressions X(z) are equal. They
have different ROCs.

• Therefore, whenever the z-transform of a

sequence is computed, it should be associated
with its ROC. Otherwise, the time-domain
sequence is not unique.

7
 Properties of the ROC
• Property 1: It can be shown
that the ROC of X(z) is an
annular ring in the Z-plane
centered about the origin.
n
x[n ] r
n

-If a point on r is in the ROC, then the entire

circle with raduis r will be included in the ROC.
Property 2: The ROC does not contain any poles.
At a pole X(z) is infinite.

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 Properties of the ROC
• Property 3: If x[n] is of finite duration, then
the ROC is the entire Z-plane, except possibly
z=0 and/or
N
z= .
2

, we have a finite number of terms

n
• X(z) x[n]z
n N
each of which is finite, then a finite sum.
1

• Example: Consider x[n] [n 1] [n] [n 1]

• Then X ( z ) n
x[ n ] z1
z 1 z
n

• Therefore, the ROC of X(z) is the entire Z-plane

except z=0 and z= .

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 Properties of the ROC
• Property 4: If x[n] is a right-sided sequence,
and if the circle |z| = r0 is in the ROC, then all
finite values of z for which |z| > r0 are also in
the ROC.
• Since r0 is in the ROC, then
n
x[ n ]r0
n N1

n
• r1 >r0 this implies n N1
x[ n ]r
1

• Property 5: If x[n] is a left-sided sequence, and

if the circle |z| = r0 is in the ROC, then all
values of z for which 0<|z| < r0 are also in the
ROC.

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 Properties of the ROC N1

• Since r0 is in the ROC, then n

x [ n ] r0
n

N1
n
• r1 <r0 this impliesn
x[ n ]r
1

• Property 6: If x[n] is a two-sided sequence, and

if the circle |z| = r0 is in the ROC, then the
ROC will consist of a ring in the z-plane that
includes the circle |z| = r0.
• Property 7: If the Z-transform of x[n] is
rational, then its ROC is bounded by poles or
extends to infinity.
•
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 Properties of the ROC
• Property 8: If the Z-transform of x[n] is rational,
and if x[n] is right-sided, then the ROC is the
region in the Z-plane outside the outermost pole.
Furthemore, if x[n] is causal (x[n]=0, for n<0),
then the ROC includes z= .
• Property 9: If the Z-transform of x[n] is rational,
and if x[n] is left-sided, then the ROC is the
region in the Z-plane inside the innermost
nonzero pole. Furthemore, if x[n] is anticausal
(x[n]=0, for n>=0), then the ROC includes z=0

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• Example: Consider x[n] b b 0 , Determine X(z).
n

• Answer:
x[n ] b nu[n ] b n
u[ n 1]
1
b nu[n ] 1
z b
1 bz
n 1 1
b u[ n 1] z
1 b 1z 1 b
1 1 1
X (z) 1
z b
1 bz 1 b 1z 1 b

• If b>1, there is no overlapping, so X(z) doesn’t exist.

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 Properties of the Z-transform
• 1) Linearity: ax [n] bx [n] 1 2 aX1[z] bX2[z]

Proof: Z ax [n] bx [n] (ax1[n] bx2[n])z n

1 2
n

n n
a x1[n]z b x2[n]z aX1[ z] bX2[ z]
n n

• 2)Time-shift: x[n n0 ] z n0
X [ z]

Proof: Z x[ n n ]
0 x[ n n0 ] z n
x[ m ] z ( m n0 )

n m

m n0 n0 m n0
x[ m ] z z z x[ m ] z z X [ z]
m m

• Linearity and time-shift are usually used to

solve linear difference equations.
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 Properties of the Z-transform
• 3)Differentiation in the Z-domain:
dX [ z ]
nx [ n ] z
dz
• Proof: X(z) x[n ]z n

dX ( z ) n 1 1 n
( n ) x[n ]z z nx [ n ] z
dz n n

dX ( z )
Or z ( nx [ n ]) z n
Z nx [ n ]
dz
• Example: Determine the Z-transform of x[n]
n

nanu[n]

• Answer: 1
g[n] a nu[n ] G (z) 1
; z a
1 az
dG ( z )
x[ n ] na n u [ n ] ng [ n ] X (z) z dz
2 1
( a )( 1 ) z az
X (z) z ; z a
(1 az 1 ) 2 (1 az 1
) 2

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 Properties of the Z-transform
• 4)Scaling in the Z-domain:
x[n] X ( z ); ROC : R,
z0n x[ n] X ( zz0 ); ROC : z0 R

• Proof:
Y(z) z0n x[n]z n
x[n]( zz0 ) n
X ( zz0 ); ROC : z0 R
n n

• 5)Time-reversal:
x[n] X ( z ); ROC : R,
x[ n] X ( 1z ); ROC : 1 / R

• Proof: Y(z) x[ n ] z n
x[ m ]( z 1 ) m
X ( 1z ); ROC : 1 / R
n m

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 Properties of the Z-transform
• 6)Conjugation:
x[n ] X ( z );
x [n ] X ( z );
• Proof:
n
Y(z) x [n]z [ x[n](z ) n ] X (z )
n n

• -Important special case:

• If x[n] is real, then x[n] x [n] X (z) X (z )
Consequently, if X(z) has a pole (or zero) at z z0,
then it must also have a pole (or zero) at z z 0

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 Properties of the Z-transform
• 7)Convolution: y[n] x [n] x [n] 1 2
Z Transform
Y ( z) X 1 ( z) X 2 ( z)

• Proof: Y ( z ) ( x [ n ] x [ n ]) z
n
1 2
n

n
x 1 [ k ]x 2 [ n k ]z
n k

n
x1 [ k ] x2[n k ]z
k n

k
x1 [ k ] z X 2 (z) X 1(z) X 2 (z)

• Example: Determine the convolution of

k

1, 0 n 5
x1 [ n ] [n] 2 [n 1] [n 2 ]; and x 2 [ n ]
0 , elsewhere
• Answer: X 1(z) 1 2z 1
z 2
(1 z 1
)2
We notice that the X 2 (z) 1 z 1
z 2
z 5 1 z 6
1
1 z
Z-transform produces Y (z) X 1(z)X (z) (1 z 1
)( 1 z 6
)
2
concise expressions. 1 6 7
1 z z z
y[n ] [n ] [n 1] [n 6] [n 7]
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 Properties of the Z-transform
• Example: determine the inverse z-transform of
1
X ( z ) log(1 az ), z a
• Answer: az
dX ( z ) az 2 1
z dz z 1 1
nx [ n ] a ( a ) n 1 u[ n 1]
1 az 1 az
( a)n 1
x[ n ] a u[ n 1]
n

• Initial value theorem: If x[n]=0, n<0, then

n
X ( z) n 0
x[n]z
1 2
x[0] x[1]z x[2]z
x[0] lim X ( z )
z

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 Analysis and characterization of LTI
systems using the Z-transform
• Causality: An LTI system is causal if h[n]=0, n<0.
• H ( z)
n 0
h[n]z , thus H(z) does not contain any
n

positive powers of Z. Consequently, the ROC

includes infinity.
• -A discrete-time LTI system is causal if and only
if the ROC of its system function is the exterior
of a circle, including infinity.

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 Analysis and characterization of LTI
systems using the Z-transform
• -A discrete-time LTI system with rational
system function H(z) is causal if and only if:
• a)the ROC is the exterior of a circle outside the
outermost pole;
• b)with H(z) expressed as a ratio of polynomials
in z, the order of the numerator cannot be
greater than the order of the denominator.

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 .
• Example: Consider a system with system fct.
• H(z) 1 0.15z 1 21z , z 2 , is it causal?
1 1

• Answer:
• 1) ROC: |z|>2, it is the exterior of the outer most pole, then
the first condition of causality is met.
• 2) The order of the numerator should not be greater than that
of the denominator?
1 1
H (z) 1 0 .5 z 1
1 2z 1

z z
z 0 .5 1z 2
2 z 2 2 .5 z
( z 0 . 5 )( z 2 )

• lim H ( z ) 2 the second condition is met too.

z

• From 1) and 2), we deduce that the system is causal.

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 Analysis and characterization of LTI
systems using the Z-transform
• Stabilty: An LTI system is stable if n
h[ n ]

• We have H ( z ) n
h[ n] z H ( z)n
n
h[n] z n

n
h[ n] r n e jn
n
h[ n] r n

n
h[ n] if r 1

• Thus, the unit circle, |z|=1, is in the ROC.

• An LTI system is BIBO stable if and only if the
ROC of its system function H(z) includes the
unit circle, |z|=1.
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 Analysis and characterization of LTI
systems using the Z-transform
• -A causal LTI system with rational system function H(z) is stable
if and only if all of the poles of H(z) lie inside the unit circle.
• Example: Suppose that we are given the following facts about an
LTI system with impulse response h[n] and Z transform H(z).
• 1) h[n] is real,
• 2) h[n] is right-sided,
• 3) lim H(z)=1, when z tends to infinity,
• 4) H(z) has two zeros,
• 5) H(z) has one of its poles at a nonreal location on the circle
defined by |z|=3/4. Is the system causal? Stable?

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 Analysis and characterization of LTI
systems using the Z-transform
• Answer:
• -2) h[n] is right-sided implies that the ROC is the exterior of a
circle in the z-plane.
• -3) lim H(z)=1, when z tends to infinity implies that the ROC
includes z= . Also, 3) implies that the order of the numerator
is equal to the order of the denominator.
• Therefore, the system is causal.
• - 4) H(z) has two zeros implies there two poles only. The poles
are a conjugate pair because h[n] is real. The poles are located
on the on the circle defined by |z|=3/4. Therefore, the ROC of
H(z) includes the unit circle and hence the system is stable.

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 Conclusion
• -In this Chapter, we have seen a powerful tool for
the analysis of discrete-time signals and systems, it
is the z-transform.
• -Usually, discrete-time signals are described by their
z-transform as it gives a concise representation of
sequences.
• -The Z-transform was developed to solve constant
coefficient linear difference equations.

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