Properties of the

Fourier Transform

24.2

Introduction
In this Section we shall learn about some useful properties of the Fourier transform which enable
us to calculate easily further transforms of functions and also in applications such as electronic
communication theory.

Prerequisites
Before starting this Section you should . . .

be aware of the basic definitions of the

Fourier transform and inverse Fourier
transform


'

Learning Outcomes
On completion you should be able to . . .
&

14


$

state and use the linearity property and the

time and frequency shift properties of Fourier
transforms
state various other properties of the Fourier
transform
HELM (2008):
Workbook 24: Fourier Transforms

1. Linearity properties of the Fourier transform

(i) If f (t), g(t) are functions with transforms F (), G() respectively, then
F{f (t) + g(t)} = F () + G()
i.e. if we add 2 functions then the Fourier transform of the resulting function is simply the sum of
the individual Fourier transforms.
(ii) If k is any constant,
F{kf (t)} = kF ()
i.e. if we multiply a function by any constant then we must multiply the Fourier transform by the
same constant. These properties follow from the definition of the Fourier transform and from the
properties of integrals.
Examples
1.
F{2et u(t) + 3e2t u(t)} = F{2et u(t)} + F{3e2t u(t)}
= 2F{et u(t)} + 3F{e2t u(t)}
=

2
3
+
1 + i 2 + i

2.


4
3 t 3
0
otherwise
f (t) = 4p3 (t)
8
F () = 4P3 () = sin 3

If

f (t) =

then
so

using the standard result for F{pa (t)}.

Task


If f (t) =

6
0

2 t 2
otherwise

write down F ().

Your solution

Answer
We have f (t) = 6p2 (t) so F () =

12
sin 2.

HELM (2008):
Section 24.2: Properties of the Fourier Transform

15

2. Shift properties of the Fourier transform

There are two basic shift properties of the Fourier transform:
(i) Time shift property:

F{f (t t0 )} = eit0 F ()

(ii) Frequency shift property

F{ei0 t f (t)} = F ( 0 ).

Here t0 , 0 are constants.

In words, shifting (or translating) a function in one domain corresponds to a multiplication by a
complex exponential function in the other domain.
We omit the proofs of these properties which follow from the definition of the Fourier transform.

Example 2
Use the time-shifting property to find the Fourier transform of the function

1
3t5
g(t) =
0
otherwise

g(t)
1
3

Figure 4

Solution
g(t) is a pulse of width 2 and can be obtained by shifting the symmetrical rectangular pulse

1
1 t 1
p1 (t) =
0
otherwise
by 4 units to the right.
Hence by putting t0 = 4 in the time shift theorem
G() = F{g(t)} = e4i

16

2
sin .

HELM (2008):
Workbook 24: Fourier Transforms

Task
Verify the result of Example 2 by direct integration.

Your solution

Answer
Z
G() =

5
it

1e


dt =

eit
i

5
3

e5i e3i
=
= e4i
i

ei ei
i

= e4i 2

sin
,

as obtained using the time-shift property.

Task
Use the frequency shift property to obtain the Fourier transform of the
modulated wave
g(t) = f (t) cos 0 t
where f (t) is an arbitrary signal whose Fourier transform is F ().
First rewrite g(t) in terms of complex exponentials:
Your solution

Answer

g(t) = f (t)

ei0 t + ei0 t
2

HELM (2008):
Section 24.2: Properties of the Fourier Transform

1
1
= f (t)ei0 t + f (t)ei0 t
2
2

17

Now use the linearity property and the frequency shift property on each term to obtain G():
Your solution

Answer
We have, by linearity:
1
1
F{g(t)} = F{f (t)ei0 t } + F{f (t)ei0 t }
2
2
and by the frequency shift property:
1
1
G() = F ( 0 ) + F ( + 0 ).
2
2

F ()

G()

1
1
2

3. Inversion of the Fourier transform

Formal inversion of the Fourier transform, i.e. finding f (t) for a given F (), is sometimes possible
using the inversion integral (4). However, in elementary cases, we can use a Table of standard Fourier
transforms together, if necessary, with the appropriate properties of the Fourier transform.
The following Examples and Tasks involve such inversion.

18

HELM (2008):
Workbook 24: Fourier Transforms

Example 3
Find the inverse Fourier transform of F () = 20

sin 5
.
5

Solution
The appearance of the sine function implies that f (t) is a symmetric rectangular pulse.
sin a
sin a
We know the standard form F{pa (t)} = 2a
or F 1 {2a
} = pa (t).
a
a
sin 5
Putting a = 5 F 1 {10
} = p5 (t). Thus, by the linearity property
5
sin 5
f (t) = F 1 {20
} = 2p5 (t)
5

f (t)
2
t

5
Figure 4

Example 4
Find the inverse Fourier transform of G() = 20

sin 5
exp (3i).
5

Solution
The occurrence of the complex exponential factor in the Fourier transform suggests the time-shift
property with the time shift t0 = +3 (i.e. a right shift).
From Example 3
F 1 {20

sin 5
} = 2p5 (t)
5

so

g(t) = F 1 {20

sin 5 3i
e
} = 2p5 (t 3)
5

g(t)

Figure 5

HELM (2008):
Section 24.2: Properties of the Fourier Transform

19

Task
Find the inverse Fourier transform of
sin 2 4i
e
.
H() = 6

Firstly ignore the exponential factor and find the inverse Fourier transform of the remaining terms:
Your solution

Answer
sin a
} = pa (t)
a
sin 2
Putting a = 2 gives F 1 {2
} = p2 (t)

We use the result: F 1 {2a

F 1 {6

sin 2
} = 3p2 (t)

Now take account of the exponential factor:

Your solution

Answer
Using the time-shift theorem for t0 = 4
h(t) = F 1 {6

sin 2 4i
e
} = 3p2 (t 4)

h(t)
3
2

20

HELM (2008):
Workbook 24: Fourier Transforms

Example 5
Find the inverse Fourier transform of
2
K() =
1 + 2( 1)i

Solution
The presence of the term ( 1) instead of suggests the frequency shift property.
Hence, we consider first
2

.
K()
=
1 + 2i
The relevant standard form is
1
1
F{et u(t)} =
or
F 1 {
} = et u(t).
+ i
+ i
1
= e 12 t u(t).

Hence, writing K()

= 1
k(t)
+ i
2
Then, by the frequency shift property with 0 = 1

k(t) = F 1 {

1
2
} = e 2 t eit u(t).
1 + 2( 1)i

Here k(t) is a complex time-domain signal.

Task
Find the inverse Fourier transforms of
(a) L() = 2

sin {3( 2)}

( 2)

(b) M () =

ei
1 + i

Your solution

HELM (2008):
Section 24.2: Properties of the Fourier Transform

21

Answer
(a) Using the frequency shift property with 0 = 2
l(t) = F 1 {L()} = p3 (t)ei2t
(b) Using the time shift property with t0 = 1
m(t) = e(t+1) u(t + 1)

m(t)

4. Further properties of the Fourier transform

We state these properties without proof. As usual F () denotes the Fourier transform of f (t).
(a) Time differentiation property:
F{f 0 (t)} = iF ()
(Differentiating a function is said to amplify the higher frequency components because of
the additional multiplying factor .)
(b) Frequency differentiation property:
F{tf (t)} = i

dF
d

or

F{(it)f (t)} =

dF
d

Note the symmetry between properties (a) and (b).

(c) Duality property:
If F{f (t)} = F () then

F{F (t)} = 2f ().

Informally, the duality property states that we can, apart from the 2 factor, interchange the time
and frequency domains provided we put rather than in the second term, this corresponding to
a reflection in the vertical axis. If f (t) is even this latter is irrelevant.

sin
1
1 < t < 1
For example, we know that if f (t) = p1 (t) =
, then F () = 2
.
0
otherwise

Then, by the duality property, since p1 () is even, F{2

22

sin t
} = 2p1 () = 2p1 ().
t
HELM (2008):
Workbook 24: Fourier Transforms

Graphically:
p1 (t)

P1 ()

F
1

2p1 ()

P1 (t)
2

F
t

Figure 6

Task
Recalling the Fourier transform pair
 2t
4
e
t>0
,
f (t) =
F () =
2t
e
t<0
4 + 2
obtain the Fourier transforms of
1
1
(a) g(t) =
(b) h(t) =
cos 2t.
2
4+t
4 + t2

(a) Use the linearity and duality properties:

Your solution

HELM (2008):
Section 24.2: Properties of the Fourier Transform

23

Answer
1
4
1 2|t|
e
}
=
.

F{
4 + 2
4
4 + 2

1
1
(by duality).
F{
} = 2 e2|| = e2|| = G()
2
4+t
4
2

We have F{f (t)} F{e2|t| } =

f (t)
1

(by linearity)

F ()
1

F
t

g(t)

G()

1
4

(b) Use the modulation property based on the frequency shift property:
Your solution

Answer
We have h(t) = g(t) cos 2t.

F{g(t) cos 0 t} = 12 (G( 0 ) + G( + 0 )),

 2|2|
so with 0 = 2 F{h(t)} =
e
+ e2|+2| = H()
4

H()

24

HELM (2008):
Workbook 24: Fourier Transforms

Exercises
1. Using the superposition and time delay theorems and the known result for the transform of the
rectangular pulse p(t), obtain the Fourier transforms of each of the signals shown.

xb (t)

xa (t)
(a)

(b)

t
2

xc (t)

xd (t)
2

(c)

(d)

t
2

2. Obtain the Fourier transform of the signal

f (t) = et u(t) + e2t u(t)
where u(t) denotes the unit step function.
3. Use the time-shift property to obtain the Fourier transform of

1 1 t 3
f (t) =

0 otherwise
Verify your result using the definition of the Fourier transform.
4. Find the inverse Fourier transforms of
(a) F () = 20

sin(5) 3i
e
5

8
sin 3 ei

ei
(c) F () =
1 i

(b) F () =

5. If f (t) is a signal with transform F () obtain the Fourier transform of f (t) cos(0 t) cos(0 t).

HELM (2008):
Section 24.2: Properties of the Fourier Transform

25

Answer
1.

Xa () =

3
sin( ) cos( )

2
2

Xb () =

4i

3
sin( ) sin( )

2
2

2
[sin(2) + sin()]



2
3
3i/2
Xd () =
sin( ) + sin(
e

2
2
Xc () =

2. F () =

3 + 2i
2 2 + 3i

(using the superposition property)

sin 2i
e


2 2 < t < 8
4. (a) f (t) =
0 otherwise

4 4 < t < 2
(b) f (t) =
0 otherwise
 t+1
e
t < 1
(c) f (t) =
0 otherwise
3. F () = 2

5.

26

1
1
F () + [F ( + 20 ) + F ( 20 )]
2
4

HELM (2008):
Workbook 24: Fourier Transforms