Part 1. Continuous-Time Signals
The convolution of two signals is defined by f1(t) * f2(t) = ∫ f1(τ) f2(t - τ) dτ, -∞ < t < ∞. Consider the continuous-time signals f1(t) = p(t) and f2(t) = [u(t) - u(t - 5)]. Properties: Write a MATLAB program to perform and verify the commutativity and associativity of continuous-time convolution: f1(t) * f2(t) = f2(t) * f1(t) and f1(t) * (f2(t) + f3(t)) = f1(t) * f2(t) + f1(t) * f3(t).
The convolution can be approximated by a finite sum of the form: ∑ f[iT] f[z(k-i)T], where i = 0 to k0. While writing the program, you must discretize the convolution integral given above; that integral must be approximated as fi[kT] * fz[kT] ≈ T ∑ f[iT] f[z(k-i)T], where i = 0 to k0.
Take T = 0.1, plot the results obtained, and comment on the durations of the signals obtained through the convolution procedure. Observe that the commutativity and distributivity properties hold for the approximate continuous-time convolution, and conclude that when T approaches 0, these properties also hold for the convolution integral.