Finding system output with unit step impulse response

[goaliejoe35]

Suppose that the system of figure (a) has the input x(t) given in Figure (b). The impulse response is the unit step function h(t) = u(t). Find and sketch the system output y(t).
http://qaboard.cramster.com/answer-board/image/a4d35f0d5eef154398161f9124b69a59.jpg

http://qaboard.cramster.com/answer-board/image/4e19bec6ce63932d6e85f12071ffe5ff.jpg

Could someone please explain this to me? I have no idea how to do it.

I thought maybe write an equation for x(t), but I am not sure. All I need is someone to push me in the right direction.

Thanks.

 

[jordan.nc]

Hi goaliejoe35...here's how u find out y(t) without having to write the equation for x(t). Basically what h(t) means is that if x(t)=input were an impulse (a function whose value is 1 at t=0 and 0 otherwise) instead of what is given in the figure, then the system represented by the box gives an output of h(t)=u(t)=step function. Since the actual input given in the pic can be decomposed as a sum of time shifted impulses, h(t)s of these time shifted impulses can be summed together to form y(t). Mathematically known as convolution. Check this out for an example on convolution:
http://cnx.org/content/m11541/latest/

To take the easier way, you could use a tool such as mathematica(although u have to write an equation to represent x(t) and h(t)) to perform the convolution and find out the output.
x(t) = 2u(t)-3u(t-1)+u(t+2);
h(t)=u(t);