On linear system theory

Abstract

A linear constant dynamical system can be described either by a large set of first-order equations, or by a smaller set of higher-order equations. A formalism was recently given which greatly eases the difficulty of going from one such description to another. By means of this formalism, the known results concerning systems with least order are considerably extended. New and simpler ways of generating such systems are given. Both the new results and the known results are derived in a simple and consistent way.