This video lecture (start at 32:01), the professor showed a demo about the effects of feedback on noise and non-linearities.
The graph below is a system with input signal which is applied directly to an operational amplifier(the amplifier models the linear portion of the forward path gain), followed by a nonlinear element (has dead zone and two different degrees of compression of linear region). A potentiometer is put between the output and input of nonlinear element to moderate the effects on the non-linearity.
What I am confused is why the feedback path (potentiometer) is connected between the input and output of the non-linearity element as the figure 1 instead of the one as I modified in figure 2.
Can I use the feedback path with the voltage divider as figure 2?
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Figure 1: system from the lecture
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Figure 2: modified system