---
title: "Four properties of DTFS"
subject: "Signals and Systems"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_4/signals_and_systems:dtfs-four-properties"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/signals_and_systems/dtfs-four-properties
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Four properties of DTFS

Signals and Systems · Chapter 2: Fourier Series

- Asked in: 2078 Poush, 6 marks
- Video: [Linearity | Properties of DTFS | EnggClasses](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpK3B8KK7Ic) — EnggClasses
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/signals_and_systems/dtfs-four-properties
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_4/signals_and_systems/chapter-2

## Question

State and explain four properties of discrete time Fourier series.

## Short answer

Linearity: A x[n]+B y[n] ↔ A a_k+B b_k. Time shift: x[n-n0] ↔ a_k e^{-jkω0 n0}. Frequency shift: e^{jMω0 n}x[n] ↔ a_{k-M}. Parseval: (1/N)∑|x[n]|^2 = ∑|a_k|^2.

## Answer

Let $x[n]$ and $y[n]$ be periodic with the same period $N$, $\omega_0 = 2\pi/N$, with $x[n] \overset{FS}{\longleftrightarrow} a_k$ and $y[n] \overset{FS}{\longleftrightarrow} b_k$, where $a_k = \frac{1}{N}\sum_{n=\langle N\rangle}x[n]e^{-jk\omega_0 n}$.

#### 1. Linearity
$$
A\,x[n] + B\,y[n] \overset{FS}{\longleftrightarrow} A a_k + B b_k
$$

The analysis sum is linear, so the coefficients of a weighted sum are the same weighted sum of coefficients. Example: $x[n] = 2\cos(\omega_0 n) + 3$ has $a_0 = 3$, $a_{\pm1} = 1$.

#### 2. Time shifting
$$
x[n - n_0] \overset{FS}{\longleftrightarrow} a_k e^{-jk(2\pi/N)n_0}
$$

Proof: with $m = n - n_0$, $\frac{1}{N}\sum_n x[n-n_0]e^{-jk\omega_0 n} = e^{-jk\omega_0 n_0}\frac{1}{N}\sum_m x[m]e^{-jk\omega_0 m}$. A shift leaves $|a_k|$ unchanged and adds a linear phase.

#### 3. Frequency shifting
$$
e^{jM(2\pi/N)n}x[n] \overset{FS}{\longleftrightarrow} a_{k-M}
$$

Multiplying by the $M$th harmonic exponential shifts the coefficients by $M$ (used in modulation).

#### 4. Parseval's relation
$$
\frac{1}{N}\sum_{n=\langle N\rangle}|x[n]|^2 = \sum_{k=\langle N\rangle}|a_k|^2
$$

The average power in one period equals the sum of the powers of the $N$ harmonics.

#### Other properties (for reference)
| Property | Signal | Coefficients |
|---|---|---|
| Time reversal | $x[-n]$ | $a_{-k}$ |
| Conjugation | $x^*[n]$ | $a_{-k}^*$ |
| Periodic convolution | $\sum_{r=\langle N\rangle}x[r]y[n-r]$ | $N a_k b_k$ |
| Multiplication | $x[n]y[n]$ | $\sum_{l=\langle N\rangle}a_l b_{k-l}$ |
| First difference | $x[n] - x[n-1]$ | $(1 - e^{-jk\omega_0})a_k$ |
| Real signal | $x[n]$ real | $a_k = a_{-k}^*$ |

A property special to the DTFS is that the coefficients are themselves periodic: $a_{k+N} = a_k$.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. If x[n] has coefficients a_k and y[n] has b_k, the coefficients of A x[n] + B y[n] are:
   A. A a_k b_k
   B. A a_k + B b_k
   C. (A + B)(a_k + b_k)
   D. A b_k + B a_k
   Answer: B. The analysis sum is linear, so the coefficients of a weighted sum are the same weighted sum of coefficients. (Key point: Linearity)

2. What does a time shift x[n - n0] do to the DTFS coefficients?
   A. Shifts a_k to a_{k-n0}
   B. Changes |a_k| and leaves the phase unchanged
   C. Multiplies a_k by e^{-jk(2 pi/N)n0}, changing only the phase
   D. Multiplies a_k by n0
   Answer: C. A shift multiplies a_k by a linear-phase term, so |a_k| is unchanged and only the phase changes. (Key point: Time shifting)

3. Multiplying x[n] by e^{jM(2 pi/N)n} gives coefficients:
   A. a_{k+M}
   B. a_k e^{jM}
   C. M a_k
   D. a_{k-M}
   Answer: D. Multiplying by the Mth harmonic exponential shifts the coefficient sequence by M places, giving a_{k-M}. (Key point: Frequency shifting)

4. Parseval's relation for the DTFS states that the average power in one period (1/N) sum |x[n]|^2 equals:
   A. |a_0|^2 only
   B. sum of a_k over one period
   C. N times the sum of |a_k|^2
   D. sum of |a_k|^2 over the N harmonics
   Answer: D. Average power equals the sum of the powers |a_k|^2 of the N harmonic components. (Key point: Parseval's relation)

## Related in Signals and Systems

- [Derive the discrete-time Fourier series](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsignals_and_systems%3Adtfs-derivation) — Signals and Systems, chapter 2, asked 15×
- [DTFS linearity and time shift](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsignals_and_systems%3Adtfs-linearity-time-shift) — Signals and Systems, chapter 2
- [Time-scaling property of DTFS](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsignals_and_systems%3Adtfs-time-scaling) — Signals and Systems, chapter 2, asked 6×
- [Time-shifting property of DTFS](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsignals_and_systems%3Adtfs-time-shifting) — Signals and Systems, chapter 2, asked 5×
- [Fourier series vs transform; DTFT of aⁿ](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsignals_and_systems%3Afs-vs-ft-dtft-geometric) — Signals and Systems, chapter 3
- [Continuous-time vs discrete-time signals](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsignals_and_systems%3Act-vs-dt-signals) — Signals and Systems, chapter 1, asked 3×

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