# Power Spectrum Problem

#### Stereoblind

Joined Mar 10, 2015
14
I'm looking through a past paper for my course just now and I have come across a problem about power spectrums. I've looked through my course notes and the recommended textbook and attacked Google but can't seem to find any answer to my question

I've attached the problem as an image, if anyone can help me out I'd be so grateful!

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#### t_n_k

Joined Mar 6, 2009
5,455
Presumably the half power bandwidth is defined by

$$\{\frac{\sin\(\pi f {10}^{-2}$$}{\pi f {10}^{-2}}\}^2=0.5\)

Solve for the value of f that satisfies the relationship.

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#### Stereoblind

Joined Mar 10, 2015
14
I'd be at a loss at how to solve that because we have the f as an argument of the sin function but also have it underneath?
We've been given an answer sheet that says the answer is approximately 161.7Hz. Even if I punch that in I'm not getting a half :/ .

#### t_n_k

Joined Mar 6, 2009
5,455
I would plot the function and look for the value when it drops to around 0.5 G(0). Then try to tweak the value by any method that works. Are there tables for the sinc function? That's the best I can offer.

#### WBahn

Joined Mar 31, 2012
26,398
Another case of an author not giving a damn about units.

Since the argument to the sine function HAS to be dimensionless, the value of

$$\pi f 10^{-2}$$

has to have units of radians. This will not be the case if 'f' has units of Hz. To sort it out, we would need to know where this power spectrum came from and since it is just a given in the problem there's no way to do that.

#### Stereoblind

Joined Mar 10, 2015
14
Thanks for your help guys. I've now resorted to emailing my lecturer asking for clarification on what to do - I will keep you posted

#### Stereoblind

Joined Mar 10, 2015
14
"You cannot find the solution for this problem analytically (except part c), hence something like this will not come at the exam/test.

To solve it, observe that G(f) is maximum when f=0 and the max is G(f=0)=10. Half power bandwidth is the frequency f* when G(f*)=G(f=0)/2=5. You can now replace this value in the equation and obtain:
5=10{sin(pi f 0.01)/(pi f 0.01)}^2 . This is an equation with one unknown that you should solve for f. The obtained f is the 3-dB bandwidth. As I said this cannot be done analytically, but you can use Matlab or any numerical method to solve it.

Part b) is similar, only we are looking now for f** such that G(f**)=G(f=0)/4."

#### WBahn

Joined Mar 31, 2012
26,398
"You cannot find the solution for this problem analytically (except part c), hence something like this will not come at the exam/test.

To solve it, observe that G(f) is maximum when f=0 and the max is G(f=0)=10. Half power bandwidth is the frequency f* when G(f*)=G(f=0)/2=5. You can now replace this value in the equation and obtain:
5=10{sin(pi f 0.01)/(pi f 0.01)}^2 . This is an equation with one unknown that you should solve for f. The obtained f is the 3-dB bandwidth. As I said this cannot be done analytically, but you can use Matlab or any numerical method to solve it.

Part b) is similar, only we are looking now for f** such that G(f**)=G(f=0)/4."
It's pretty clear that the lecturer hasn't tried to actually solve it yet -- which is not too surprising and is not even a condemnation of them.

Did you tell the lecturer what you are getting for an answer and that it doesn't match the answer given. That will usually get them to verify the answer themselves.

#### t_n_k

Joined Mar 6, 2009
5,455
To solve it, observe that G(f) is maximum when f=0 and the max is G(f=0)=10. Half power bandwidth is the frequency f* when G(f*)=G(f=0)/2=5. You can now replace this value in the equation and obtain:
5=10{sin(pi f 0.01)/(pi f 0.01)}^2 . This is an equation with one unknown that you should solve for f. The obtained f is the 3-dB bandwidth. As I said this cannot be done analytically, but you can use Matlab or any numerical method to solve it.
Which is what post #2 succinctly proposes.

#### t_n_k

Joined Mar 6, 2009
5,455
@Stereoblind : you searched for information on Google about this particular problem. I suspect with many of these mathematical "perspectives" of signal processing, one is likely to lose sight of the origin & usefulness of such mathematical expressions. If you Google energy spectral density or power spectrum of a rectangular pulse, you might find some further enlightenment.
Adopting a bit of 'Peaseology', it might also be worth asking the (hopefully pertinent) question - "What's all this power spectrum stuff, Anyhow?"

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