Spectral Representation of Discrete-Time Signals and Its Educational Aspects

Abstract

Some opinions how to understand and teach spectral representation of discrete-time (DT) signals are discussed in this contribution. There are two excessive ways often used in the educational process. The first one presents discrete - time signal as a product of sampling of continuous - time (CT) signal. The spectral properties of DT signal are then derived from the properties of CT signal and from the peculiarity of the sampling process. Second way builds the spectral description only in the area of DT signals irrespective of the CT signal spectral theory. In our paper, another approach will be presented which prefers the second way but emphasizes the connection and common properties of DT and CT signals. This method enables understanding of new subject - matter because teacher can utilize student's knowledge from the area of CT signals.