# Proof of time-invariance of continuous-time system

I have a system with the following input/output relation:

$$y(t)=x(-t)$$

and I want to prove (not graphically/draw) that its not time invariant (TI).

I tried to write down $$y(t-T)$$ and compare it to the response to $$x(t-T)$$ but I get both terms equal which shouldn't be the case.

• A signaL cannot be time-invariant unless it happens to have constant value for all time. What you are asking about is a system that transforms its input signal (here denoted by $x(t)$) into the output signal $y(t)$ that for all time instants $t$ has value $x(-t)$. May 5 '15 at 19:23
• @DilipSarwate: edited ... May 6 '15 at 16:11

Let $y_1(t)$ be the response to the signal $x_1(t)$:

$$y_1(t)=x_1(-t)\tag{1}$$

Now let $x_2(t)$ be a shifted version of $x_1(t)$:

$$x_2(t)=x_1(t-T)\tag{2}$$

The response to $x_2(t)$ is

$$y_2(t)=x_2(-t)=x_1(-t-T)\tag{3}$$

If the system were time-invariant, its response to $x_2(t)$ should be a shifted version of its response to $x_1(t)$:

$$y_2(t)=y_1(t-T)\tag{4}$$

However, from (1) we have $y_1(t-T)=x_1(-(t-T))=x_1(-t+T)$. Comparing this to (3) we see that (4) is not satisfied, and, consequently, the system is not time-invariant. Now that you've seen the proof, try drawing all the signals in order to gain a better understanding.

• I like the clarity of your notation. Most of the tutorials I've seen used very messy notation and I got a feeling they did most of substitutions very non rigorously. May 16 '15 at 9:15