
A modern challenge in electrical engineering education is to keep the math at a sufficient level, with a goal to find an optimal balance between calculus competence and operative skills needed for real-life technical applications. It is not uncommon that some gaps emerge during this quest, which makes it difficult for undergraduates to entirely understand topics related on prior knowledge. This paper aims to draw attention to several important moments concerning total response of Continuous Linear Time Invariant systems, which are superficially or incorrectly explained in many textbooks, and to offer logical arrangement which can be easily understood and accepted by students. The base of discussion relies on classical calculus background, particularly on Picard's theorem on existence and uniqueness. This theorem is rarely mentioned in signals and systems textbooks. However, mathematical models of many types of signals don't satisfy the condition for continuity, which can easily produce difficulties in the learning process. It is shown that some reported disagreements and issues related to initial conditions, can be easily cleared out by using the smooth transition from classical calculus to mathematics used in system theory. It is also shown that the classical method is always the primary tool, even for determining the impulse response, while the impulse response is unnecessary or sufficient to determine the total system response, regardless of whether the convolution integral is used.
Convolution integral, differential equations, impulse response, linear system, initial conditions, Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering, Dirac delta, TK1-9971
Convolution integral, differential equations, impulse response, linear system, initial conditions, Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering, Dirac delta, TK1-9971
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
