# Inverse Fourier Transform problem

One of my tutorial questions for communication systems asks me to find the time function $x(t)$ which has the Continuous-Time Fourier Transform: $$X(\omega) = \frac{3}{(1+j\omega)(2-j\omega)}$$ So far all I have been able to do is rationalize the function so by multiplying the numerator and denominator by $(1-j\omega)(2+j\omega)$ and then substituting the resulting function $X(j\omega)$ into the formula for the inverse Fourier Transform. I can't find examples like this anywhere and so I can't evaluate where the upper and lower limits should be in order to solve this.

Does anyone have some knowledge to shed some light on this for me.

Simon.

Problems involving the derivations of CTFT $X(j\omega)$ for a given signal $x(t)$ or the reverse: finding $x(t)$ for a given $X(j\omega)$ can be solved in a number of ways. Fundamentally there exists the so called fourier integrals: the Analysis $$X(j\omega) = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} {x(t) e^{-j\omega t} dt }$$ and the synthesis: $$x(t) = \frac {1}{2\pi} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} {X(j\omega) e^{j\omega t} d\omega }$$ to directly compute what is being asked. But due to several reasons we also develop practical, shortway techniques to find those signals, as a very natural extension of engineering practice.
First of all you shall apply the method of partial fraction expansion to your given CTFT $$X(j\omega) = \frac {3}{(1+j\omega)(2-j\omega)} = \frac {1}{1+j\omega} + \frac {1}{2-j\omega}$$
Then you shall consult into a table of fourier pairs, which would guide you to find which signal has transforms of this kind. From those standard tables one can see that $x(t) = e^{-at} u(t)$ has the transform of $1/(a + j\omega)$ and also $x(t) = e^{at} u(-t)$ has the transform of $1/(a - j\omega)$, for $a> 0$
Henceforth, you would conlcude by finally invoking the linearity property of CTFT that $$x(t) = e^{-t} u(t) + e^{2t} u(-t)$$