The rank of an $m \times n$ matrix $M$ is the dimension of the range $\calR(M)$ of the matrix $M$.
The range of the matrix $M$ is
\[ \calR(M)=\{\mathbf{y} \in \R^m \mid \mathbf{y}=M\mathbf{x} \text{ for some } \mathbf{x} \in \R^n\}.\]
Proof.
(a) $\rk(AB) \leq \rk(A)$.
Recall that the rank of a matrix $M$ is the dimension of the range $\calR(M)$ of the matrix $M$.
So we have
\[\rk(AB)=\dim(\calR(AB)), \quad \rk(A)=\dim(\calR(A)).\]
In general, if a vector space $V$ is a subset of a vector space $W$, then we have
\[\dim(V) \leq \dim(W).\]
Thus, it suffices to show that the vector space $\calR(AB)$ is a subset of the vector space $\calR(A)$.
Consider any vector $\mathbf{y} \in \calR(AB)$. Then there exists a vector $\mathbf{x}\in R^{l}$ such that $\mathbf{y}=(AB)\mathbf{x}$ by the definition of the range.
Let $\mathbf{z}=B\mathbf{x} \in \R^n$.
Then we have
\[\mathbf{y}=A(B\mathbf{x})=A\mathbf{z}\]
and thus the vector $\mathbf{y}$ is in $\calR(A)$. Thus $\calR(AB)$ is a subset of $\calR(A)$ and we have
\[\rk(AB)=\dim(\calR(AB)) \leq \dim(\calR(A))=\rk(A)\]
as required.
(b) If the matrix $B$ is nonsingular, then $\rk(AB)=\rk(A)$.
Since the matrix $B$ is nonsingular, it is invertible. Thus the inverse matrix $B^{-1}$ exists. We apply part (a) with the matrices $AB$ and $B^{-1}$, instead of $A$ and $B$. Then we have
\[\rk((AB)B^{-1}) \leq \rk(AB)\]
from (a).
Combining this with the result of (a), we have
\[\rk(A)=\rk((AB)B^{-1}) \leq \rk(AB) \leq \rk(A).\]
Therefore all the inequalities are in fact equalities, and hence we have
\[\rk(AB)=\rk(A).\]
Rank and Nullity of a Matrix, Nullity of Transpose
Let $A$ be an $m\times n$ matrix. The nullspace of $A$ is denoted by $\calN(A)$.
The dimension of the nullspace of $A$ is called the nullity of $A$.
Prove the followings.
(a) $\calN(A)=\calN(A^{\trans}A)$.
(b) $\rk(A)=\rk(A^{\trans}A)$.
Hint.
For part (b), […]
Column Rank = Row Rank. (The Rank of a Matrix is the Same as the Rank of its Transpose)
Let $A$ be an $m\times n$ matrix. Prove that the rank of $A$ is the same as the rank of the transpose matrix $A^{\trans}$.
Hint.
Recall that the rank of a matrix $A$ is the dimension of the range of $A$.
The range of $A$ is spanned by the column vectors of the matrix […]
The Rank of the Sum of Two Matrices
Let $A$ and $B$ be $m\times n$ matrices.
Prove that
\[\rk(A+B) \leq \rk(A)+\rk(B).\]
Proof.
Let
\[A=[\mathbf{a}_1, \dots, \mathbf{a}_n] \text{ and } B=[\mathbf{b}_1, \dots, \mathbf{b}_n],\]
where $\mathbf{a}_i$ and $\mathbf{b}_i$ are column vectors of $A$ and $B$, […]
Quiz 7. Find a Basis of the Range, Rank, and Nullity of a Matrix
(a) Let $A=\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 3 & 0 & 0 \\
1 &3 & 1 & 2 \\
1 & 3 & 1 & 2
\end{bmatrix}$.
Find a basis for the range $\calR(A)$ of $A$ that consists of columns of $A$.
(b) Find the rank and nullity of the matrix $A$ in part (a).
Solution.
(a) […]
Find a Basis and the Dimension of the Subspace of the 4-Dimensional Vector Space
Let $V$ be the following subspace of the $4$-dimensional vector space $\R^4$.
\[V:=\left\{ \quad\begin{bmatrix}
x_1 \\
x_2 \\
x_3 \\
x_4
\end{bmatrix} \in \R^4
\quad \middle| \quad
x_1-x_2+x_3-x_4=0 \quad\right\}.\]
Find a basis of the subspace $V$ […]
Prove a Given Subset is a Subspace and Find a Basis and Dimension
Let
\[A=\begin{bmatrix}
4 & 1\\
3& 2
\end{bmatrix}\]
and consider the following subset $V$ of the 2-dimensional vector space $\R^2$.
\[V=\{\mathbf{x}\in \R^2 \mid A\mathbf{x}=5\mathbf{x}\}.\]
(a) Prove that the subset $V$ is a subspace of $\R^2$.
(b) Find a basis for […]
True or False. The Intersection of Bases is a Basis of the Intersection of Subspaces
Determine whether the following is true or false. If it is true, then give a proof. If it is false, then give a counterexample.
Let $W_1$ and $W_2$ be subspaces of the vector space $\R^n$.
If $B_1$ and $B_2$ are bases for $W_1$ and $W_2$, respectively, then $B_1\cap B_2$ is a […]
A Matrix Representation of a Linear Transformation and Related Subspaces
Let $T:\R^4 \to \R^3$ be a linear transformation defined by
\[ T\left (\, \begin{bmatrix}
x_1 \\
x_2 \\
x_3 \\
x_4
\end{bmatrix} \,\right) = \begin{bmatrix}
x_1+2x_2+3x_3-x_4 \\
3x_1+5x_2+8x_3-2x_4 \\
x_1+x_2+2x_3
\end{bmatrix}.\]
(a) Find a matrix $A$ such that […]