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• An Example of Matrices $A$, $B$ such that $\mathrm{rref}(AB)\neq \mathrm{rref}(A) \mathrm{rref}(B)$ For an $m\times n$ matrix $A$, we denote by $\mathrm{rref}(A)$ the matrix in reduced row echelon form that is row equivalent to $A$. For example, consider the matrix $A=\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 0 &2 &2 \end{bmatrix}$ Then we have \[A=\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ […]
• If a Symmetric Matrix is in Reduced Row Echelon Form, then Is it Diagonal? Recall that a matrix $A$ is symmetric if $A^\trans = A$, where $A^\trans$ is the transpose of $A$. Is it true that if $A$ is a symmetric matrix and in reduced row echelon form, then $A$ is diagonal? If so, prove it. Otherwise, provide a counterexample.   Proof. […]
• Find All 3 by 3 Reduced Row Echelon Form Matrices of Rank 1 and 2 (a) Find all $3 \times 3$ matrices which are in reduced row echelon form and have rank 1. (b) Find all such matrices with rank 2.   Solution. (a) Find all $3 \times 3$ matrices which are in reduced row echelon form and have rank 1. First we look at the rank 1 case. […]
• If a Matrix $A$ is Full Rank, then $\rref(A)$ is the Identity Matrix Prove that if $A$ is an $n \times n$ matrix with rank $n$, then $\rref(A)$ is the identity matrix. Here $\rref(A)$ is the matrix in reduced row echelon form that is row equivalent to the matrix $A$.   Proof. Because $A$ has rank $n$, we know that the $n \times n$ […]
• If Two Matrices Have the Same Rank, Are They Row-Equivalent? If $A, B$ have the same rank, can we conclude that they are row-equivalent? If so, then prove it. If not, then provide a counterexample.   Solution. Having the same rank does not mean they are row-equivalent. For a simple counterexample, consider $A = […]
• Find a Row-Equivalent Matrix which is in Reduced Row Echelon Form and Determine the Rank For each of the following matrices, find a row-equivalent matrix which is in reduced row echelon form. Then determine the rank of each matrix. (a) $A = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 3 \\ -2 & 2 \end{bmatrix}$. (b) $B = \begin{bmatrix} 2 & 6 & -2 \\ 3 & -2 & 8 \end{bmatrix}$. (c) $C […]
• For Which Choices of $x$ is the Given Matrix Invertible? Determine the values of $x$ so that the matrix \[A=\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & x \\ 1 &x &x \\ x & x & x \end{bmatrix}\] is invertible. For those values of $x$, find the inverse matrix $A^{-1}$.   Solution. We use the fact that a matrix is invertible […]
• Find the Inverse Matrices if Matrices are Invertible by Elementary Row Operations For each of the following $3\times 3$ matrices $A$, determine whether $A$ is invertible and find the inverse $A^{-1}$ if exists by computing the augmented matrix $[A|I]$, where $I$ is the $3\times 3$ identity matrix. (a) $A=\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 3 & -2 \\ 2 &3 &0 \\ […]