Signals & Systems Demystified [Paperback]

David McMahon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071475788 | ISBN-13: 978-0071475785 | Publication Date: August 16, 2006 | Edition: 1

The fast and easy way to learn signals and systems

Get a working knowledge of signal processing and systems--even if you don't have formal training, unlimited time, or a genius IQ. Signals and Systems Demystified offers an effective, illuminating, and entertaining way to learn this essential electrical engineering subject.

First, you'll learn methods used to calculate energy and power in signals. Next, you'll study signals in the frequency domain using Fourier analysis. Other topics covered include amplitude, frequency, and phase modulation, spectral analysis, convolution, the Laplace transform, and the z-transform. Packed with hundreds of sample equations and explained solutions, and featuring end-of-chapter quizzes and a final exam, this book will teach you the fundamentals of signals and systems in no time at all.

Simple enough for a beginner, but challenging enough for an advanced student, Signals and Systems Demystified is your shortcut to mastering this complex subject.

This hands-on, self-teaching text offers:

• An easy way to understand signal processing and systems
• Hundreds of worked examples with solutions
• A quiz at the end of each chapter to reinforce learning and pinpoint weaknesses
• A final exam at the end of the book
• No unnecessary technical jargon
• A time-saving approach to performing better on an exam or at work!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David McMahon is a physicist and researcher at Sandia National Laboratories. He is the author of Linear Algebra Demystified, Quantum Mechanics Demystified, and Relativity Demystified.

Product Details

• Paperback: 302 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 1 edition (August 16, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071475788
• ISBN-13: 978-0071475785
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #249,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #66 in Books > Computers & Technology > Networking > Wireless Networks

More About the Author

I am is the author of Linear Algebra Demystified, Quantum Mechanics Demystified, Relativity Demystified, and A Beginner's Guide to Mathematica. He holds advanced degrees in physics and mathematics and works as a consultant at Sandia and Los Alamos National laboratories. He has worked on space nuclear propulsion, the ITER fusion project, optics, and quantum information theory. More information about my books including sample text can be found at http://www.davidmcmahonbooks.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, February 4, 2007

By 

Peter Harrington (Shanghai, The People's Rebpulic of China) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Signals & Systems Demystified (Paperback)

Over all I thought this was a great book. It reviewed the basics I learned in signals and systems over six years ago and taught me some new concepts I wasn't yet aware of. One piece of evidence I have for the quality of this book is: after reading it I was able to pick up a technical journal and felt like I understood most of what they were talking about. Before reading the book I was lost in the technical journals. The math was a little frustrating, but that was simply because I needed to refresh on some things I've forgotten. If you get this book, make sure you work through the problems, it will help out a lot.
Now, I did feel that the book had a few superficial flaws that should be cleaned up for the next printing. The biggest flaws were the lack of tables. The book even refers to Appendix A and Appendix B, and they don't exist in the book I have. (Page 220 refers to Appendix B, and page 118 refers to Appendix A.) These tables really aren't needed, if you are sitting in front of a computer, but if you are reading this book on the plane during takeoff you may feel lost without those tables. I also feel it would be helpful to add a third appendix of common trig identities.
Overall it is a great book.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Signals and Systems, September 25, 2007

By 

Larry H. Harris - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Signals & Systems Demystified (Paperback)

Not complete but is more detailed then the Schaums outline on Signals and Systems. This one presumes you know less or have less of a mathmatical background.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I don't know about demystified?, November 25, 2011

By 

Chad Mcelravy (Pittsburgh, PA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Signals & Systems Demystified (Paperback)

Just for a frame of reference, I am an online electronic engineering student and I am nearing the end of multi-year journey towards my bachelors degree with a 3.5 out of 4.0 GPA.

I was having problems in my digital signal processing class. I was looking for THE book to explain everything to me. This is not that book(for me).

In all fairness, I never did find THE book.

DSP is a tough subject, you probably won't find a book to give you the "A-ha!" moment of clarity.

As with most DSP books, this one does great at explaining the concepts of the signal, but very poorly explaining the math behind it. They assume you have a 100% grasp on the advanced math required(which I don't).