Linear Algebra

If a Matrix is the Product of Two Matrices, is it Invertible?

by Yu · Published 04/27/2017 · Updated 08/11/2017

Problem 393

(a) Let $A$ be a $6\times 6$ matrix and suppose that $A$ can be written as
\[A=BC,\] where $B$ is a $6\times 5$ matrix and $C$ is a $5\times 6$ matrix.

Prove that the matrix $A$ cannot be invertible.

(b) Let $A$ be a $2\times 2$ matrix and suppose that $A$ can be written as
\[A=BC,\] where $B$ is a $ 2\times 3$ matrix and $C$ is a $3\times 2$ matrix.

Can the matrix $A$ be invertible?

Add to solve later

Contents

Problem 393
Solution.
- (a) Prove that the matrix $A$ cannot be invertible.
- (b) Can the matrix $A$ be invertible?

Solution.

(a) Prove that the matrix $A$ cannot be invertible.

Since $C$ is a $5 \times 6$ matrix, the equation
\[C\mathbf{x}=\mathbf{0}\] has a nonzero solution $\mathbf{x}_1$.
(There are more variables than equations in the system $C\mathbf{x}=\mathbf{0}$.)

It follows that we have
\begin{align*}
A\mathbf{x}_1=BC\mathbf{x}_1=B\mathbf{0}=\mathbf{0}.
\end{align*}
Since the vector $\mathbf{x}_1$ is nonzero, the matrix $A$ is a singular matrix, hence $A$ is not invertible.

(b) Can the matrix $A$ be invertible?

The answer is yes. For example consider the following $2\times 3$ matrix $B$ and $3 \times 2$ matrix $C$:
\[B=\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 0 & 0 \\
0 &1 &0
\end{bmatrix}, \qquad C=\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 0 \\
0 & 1 \\
0 &0
\end{bmatrix}.\] Then we have
\begin{align*}
A=BC=\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 0 & 0 \\
0 &1 &0
\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 0 \\
0 & 1 \\
0 &0
\end{bmatrix}
=
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 0\\
0& 1
\end{bmatrix},
\end{align*}
and the matrix $A$ is invertible.

Add to solve later

More from my site

If $M, P$ are Nonsingular, then Exists a Matrix $N$ such that $MN=P$ Suppose that $M, P$ are two $n \times n$ non-singular matrix. Prove that there is a matrix $N$ such that $MN = P$. Proof. As non-singularity and invertibility are equivalent, we know that $M$ has the inverse matrix $M^{-1}$. Let us think backwards. Suppose that […]
Are Coefficient Matrices of the Systems of Linear Equations Nonsingular? (a) Suppose that a $3\times 3$ system of linear equations is inconsistent. Is the coefficient matrix of the system nonsingular? (b) Suppose that a $3\times 3$ homogeneous system of linear equations has a solution $x_1=0, x_2=-3, x_3=5$. Is the coefficient matrix of the system […]
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 \\ […]
Determine Conditions on Scalars so that the Set of Vectors is Linearly Dependent Determine conditions on the scalars $a, b$ so that the following set $S$ of vectors is linearly dependent. \begin{align*} S=\{\mathbf{v}_1, \mathbf{v}_2, \mathbf{v}_3\}, \end{align*} where \[\mathbf{v}_1=\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 3 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix}, […]
If the Sum of Entries in Each Row of a Matrix is Zero, then the Matrix is Singular Let $A$ be an $n\times n$ matrix. Suppose that the sum of elements in each row of $A$ is zero. Then prove that the matrix $A$ is singular. Definition. An $n\times n$ matrix $A$ is said to be singular if there exists a nonzero vector $\mathbf{v}$ such that […]
Compute Determinant of a Matrix Using Linearly Independent Vectors Let $A$ be a $3 \times 3$ matrix. Let $\mathbf{x}, \mathbf{y}, \mathbf{z}$ are linearly independent $3$-dimensional vectors. Suppose that we have \[A\mathbf{x}=\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix}, A\mathbf{y}=\begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \\ 0 […]
Find Values of $h$ so that the Given Vectors are Linearly Independent Find the value(s) of $h$ for which the following set of vectors \[\left \{ \mathbf{v}_1=\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}, \mathbf{v}_2=\begin{bmatrix} h \\ 1 \\ -h \end{bmatrix}, \mathbf{v}_3=\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 2h \\ 3h+1 […]
Conditions on Coefficients that a Matrix is Nonsingular (a) Let $A=(a_{ij})$ be an $n\times n$ matrix. Suppose that the entries of the matrix $A$ satisfy the following relation. \[|a_{ii}|>|a_{i1}|+\cdots +|a_{i\,i-1}|+|a_{i \, i+1}|+\cdots +|a_{in}|\] for all $1 \leq i \leq n$. Show that the matrix $A$ is nonsingular. (b) Let […]