Lecture Notes For Rank of A Matrix - Garig, Maria Genelle S. (210 X 297 MM)

BSEDMATH 10
Linear Algebra
Lecture Notes
Real Vector Spaces and Subspaces
Rank of a Matrix
Prepared by:
Maria Genelle S. Garig
Rank of a Matrix
The rank of a matrix is the maximum number of linearly independent
column (or rows) of a matrix.
The rank of a matrix cannot exceed the number of its rows or
columns. For example, if we consider the identity matrix of order 3 × 3,
all its rows (or columns) are linearly independent and hence its rank is
3.
The rank of a matrix A is denoted by ρ (A). Here, "ρ" is a Greek
letter that should be read as "rho". So ρ (A) should be read as "rho of
A" (or) "rank of A".
The rank of a null matrix is zero. A null matrix has no non-zero rows or
columns. So, there are no independent rows or columns. Hence, the rank
of a null matrix is zero.
How to find the rank of a matrix?

The rank of a matrix can be found using three methods. The most easiest
of these methods is “converting matrix into echelon form".
Minor method
Using echelon form
Using normal form
Finding Rank of a Matrix by Minor Method

Steps to find the rank of a matrix A by the minor method.
1. Find the determinant of A (if A is a square matrix). If det (A) ≠ 0,
then the rank of A = order of A.
2. If either det A = 0 (in case of a square matrix) or A is a
rectangular matrix, then see whether there exists any minor of
maximum possible order is non-zero. If there exists such non-zero
minor, then rank of A = order of that particular minor.
3. Repeat the above step if all the minors of the order considered in
the above step are zeros and then try to find a non-zero minor of
order that is 1 less than the order from the above step.
[ ]
1 2 3
Example: Find the rank of the matrix ρ (A) if A= 4 5 6
7 8 9
Solution:
A is a square matrix and so we can find its determinant.
det (A) = 1 (45 - 48) - 2 (36 - 42) + 3 (32 - 35)
= -3 + 12 -9
det (A) = 0
So ρ (A) ≠ order of the matrix. i.e., ρ (A) ≠ 3.
Now, we will see whether we can find any non-zero minor of order 2.
1 4 = 5-8
2 5 =3 -3 ≠ 0
So there exists a minor of order 2 (or 2 × 2) which is non-zero. So the rank of A,

ρ (A) = 2.
Rank of a Matrix Using Echelon Form
In the above example, what if the first minor of order 2 × 2 that we

found was zero? We had to find all possible minors of order 2 × 2 until
we get a non-zero minor to make sure that the rank is 2. This process
may be tedious if the order of the matrix is a bigger number. To make
the process of finding the rank of a matrix easier, we can convert it
into Echelon form. A matrix ‘A’ is said to be in Echelon form if it is either
in upper triangular form or in lower triangular form. We can use
elementary row/column transformations and convert the matrix into
Echelon form.
A row (or column) transformation can be one of the following:
Interchanging two rows.
Multiplying a row by a scalar.
Multiplying a row by a scalar and then adding it to the other row.
Steps to find the rank of a matrix:
1. Convert the matrix into Echelon form using

row/ column transformations.
2. Then the rank of the matrix is equal to the
number of non-zero rows in the resultant
matrix.
A non-zero row of a matrix is a row in which at least one element is non-
zero.
[ ]
1 2 3
Example: Find the rank of the matrix A = 4 5 6 by converting
7 8 9
it into Echelon form.
[ ]
Solution: 1 2 3
Given matrix: A = 4 5 6 .
7 8 9
Apply R2 → R2 - 4R1 and R3 → R3 - 7R1, we get:

[ ]
1 2 3
0 -3 -6
0 -6 -12
Now, we apply R3 → R3 - 2R2, we get:
[ ]
1 2 3
0 -3 -6
0 0 0
Now it is in Echelon form and so now we have to count the number of
non-zero rows.
The number of non-zero rows = 2 = rank of A.
Therefore, ρ (A) = 2.
Note that we had got the same answer when we calculated the rank
using minors.
Rank of a Matrix Using Normal Form
If a rectangular matrix A can be converted into
[ ]
the form lr0 00 by using the elementary row
transformations, then A is said to be in normal
form. Here, l_r is the identity matrix of order "r"
and when A is converted into the normal form, its
rank is, ρ (A) = r. Here is an example. Converting
into normal form is helpful in determining the rank
of a rectangular matrix. But it can be used to find
the rank of square matrices also.
[ ]
1 2 1 2
Example: Find the rank of the matrix A = 1 3 2 2 by converting it
2 4 3 4
into normal form. 3 7 4 6
Solution:
Apply R2 → R2 - R1, R3 → R3 - 2R1, and R4 → R4 - 3R1 we get:
[ ]
1 2 1 2
0 1 1 0
0 0 1 0
0 1 1 0
[ ]
→ R1 - 2R2 and R4 → R4 - R2
1 0 -1 2
0 1 1 0
Now apply, R1 0 0 1 0
0 0 0 0
→ → [ ]
1 0 0 2
0 1 0 0
Apply R1 R1 + R3 and R2 R2 - R3 0 0 1 0
0 0 0 0
→ [ ]
1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
Now apply C4 C4 - 2C1 0 0 1 0
0 0 0 0
This is same as
[] 1_3
0
0
0
.
Therefore, the rank of A is, ρ (A) = 3.

Properties of Rank of a Matrix
1. If A is a nonsingular matrix of order n, then its rank is n. i.e.,
ρ (A) = n.
2. If A is in Echelon form, then the rank of A = the number of
non-zero rows of A.
3. If A is in normal form, then the rank of A = the order of the
identity matrix in it.
4. If A is a singular matrix of order n, then ρ (A) < n.
5. If A is a rectangular matrix of order m x n, then ρ (A) ≤
minimum {m, n}.
6. The rank of an identity matrix of order n is n itself.
7. The rank of a zero matrix is 0.
Important Notes on Rank of a Matrix:
While converting the matrix into echelon form or normal

form, we can either use row or column transformations. We
can also use a mix of row and column transformations.
To find the rank of a matrix by converting it into echelon
form or normal form, we can either count the number of
non-zero rows or non-zero columns.
Column rank = row rank for any matrix.
The rank of a square matrix of order n is always less than or
equal to n.

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BSEDMATH 10

How to find the rank of a matrix?

Finding Rank of a Matrix by Minor Method

So there exists a minor of order 2 (or 2 × 2) which is non-zero. So the rank of A,

Rank of a Matrix Using Echelon Form

In the above example, what if the first minor of order 2 × 2 that we

1. Convert the matrix into Echelon form using

Apply R2 → R2 - 4R1 and R3 → R3 - 7R1, we get:

Therefore, the rank of A is, ρ (A) = 3.

Important Notes on Rank of a Matrix:

While converting the matrix into echelon form or normal

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