UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

EEC150A, Signals & Systems I, Spring 2016

Course Information
Course Content: Characterization and analysis of continuous-time linear systems. Fourier series
and transforms with applications. Introduction to communication systems. Transfer functions and
block diagrams. Elements of feedback systems. Stability of linear systems.
Prerequisite: Engineering 6 (may be taken concurrently) and EEC100
Instructor:
Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar (Instructor)
E-mail: ghaffar@ece.ucdavis.edu
Office hours: T 10:30-11:50 am, Kemper 3181
Teaching Assistant:
Liansing Chow (TA)
E-mail: lschow@ucdavis.edu
Office Hours: T 2:00-3:00 pm, Kemper 3087
Lecture Schedule: MW 8:00-9:50 pm, Roessler 55
Textbook: Signal Processing and Linear Systems, by B. P. Lathi (Oxford, 1998).
Web Site Information: Much of the information for this course will be provided on Smartsite
including problem set assignments, problem set solutions, exam solutions, and lecture notes.
This information will be updated frequently during the quarter.
Problem Sets: Assigned on Wednesdays on Smartsite, due by 8:00 am the following
Wednesday (except for Problem Set 6 which is due on Monday May 16) in class or in the problem
set box for EEC150A located in 2131 Kemper. Please do your work on both sides of each page,
staple your pages, and write your name, course number, and problem set number on the
outside.
Each problem on a problem set is worth 4 points, with points allocated as follows:
Solution (4 points possible)
Correct: 4
Minor error: 3
Major error: 2
Attempted: 1
Late problem sets will not be accepted without prior approval from the instructor.
Computer Usage and MATLAB: Some problems require MATLAB. For such problems, the use of
MATLAB is explicitly stated. You should not use MATLAB to solve problems in which the use of
MATLAB is not explicitly stated. MATLAB runs on the workstations in the ECE Undergraduate
Computer Labs which you may use at any time they are not reserved for use by another class.
You should obtain an ECE computer account as soon as possible if you do not have one already.
For general information about the computer system and your account, follow the link titled ECE
Computing Support .
Quizzes: There will be four ten-minute quizzes during the quarter. They will not be announced in
advance.
Exams: There will be a midterm examination and a final examination, given under the following
schedule:
Midterm : Wednesday, May 11, 8:00-9:50 am, Roessler 55.
Final : Tuesday, June 7, 1:00-3:00 pm, Roessler 55.

The examinations will be closed book, but you will have the right to use two pages of notes for
the midterm and three pages for the final exam. (8 1/2" X 11" paper, both sides).
Giving a make-up examination is difficult, as the examination requires a considerable amount of
time to prepare, and it is difficult to make this examination equivalent to the regularly scheduled
examination. Therefore, requests for make-up examinations will only be approved in cases where
strong written justification can be provided. Acceptable justification includes illness (confirmed in
writing by a physician) and personal problems (confirmed by personnel at the Counseling
Center). You must contact the instructor before the regularly scheduled examination to request
approval of a make-up examination.
Regrading: All grades are final and non-negotiable except for grading errors. In case of a
grading error in Problem Set 1-8 or the midterm, write a short note indicating what should be
reconsidered, attach it to the problem set or midterm, and return it to the instructor within one
week after the graded material is made available. The instructor will review the grading, reassign
points if justified, and return the paper to you.
Grading: Course grades are based on a weighted sum of problem set scores and midterm and
final examination scores, with the following weights.
Problem sets: 10 %
Quizzes: 4 %
Midterm : 38 %
Final exam: 48 %