Deterministic signals can be modeled by explicit by explicit mathematical expressions. A signal of the form, say, x(t) = 5 sin20t is a deterministic signal. A random signal is one about which there is some degree of uncertainly before it actually occurs. An example of a random signal is the output of a radio receiver that is tuned to a frequency at which there is no broadcasting the receiver that is responding to noise arising from disturbances in the atmosphere and its internal circuitry. We will deal with models for
Deterministic signals in this chapter, deferring the treatment of random signals until the next chapter.