Rank of Matrix

Echelon Matrix: A Matrix A is called an echelon Matrix or is said to be in echelon form. If

the following conditions hold (Where a leading non-zero element of a row of A is the first
non-zero element in the row).
i) All Zero rows if any are at the bottom of the matrix.
ii) The leading non-zero element (pivot) in any row is farther to the right than the leading
non-zero element in the just above it.
iii) In each column containing a leading non-zero elements (pivot) the entries below that
leading non-zero element are 0.
Example: The echelon form are following the Matrix whose pivot have been circled.
2 1 0 5 7  0 1 3  2 
0 0 1 0 3 0 0 13  11
i)   ii)  
0 0 0 2 7  0 0 0 17 
   
0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 
**Pivots are the first non-zero element in each row of this eliminated matrix.

Row Canonical form: A matrix A is said to be in row canonical form if it is an echelon matrix
and if it satisfies the following conditions:
i) Each pivot (leading non-zero entry) is 1.
ii) Each pivot is the only non-zero entry in its column.
Example:
2 3 5 0 7 8 
0 0 1  3 1 2 1 2 3  0 1 3 0 0 4 
i)   
ii) 0 0 1  iii) 0 0 0 1 0  3
0 0 0 0 2 5 
  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 
0 0 0 0 0 0 
The 3rd Matrix is an example of a Matrix in row canonical form. The second Matrix is not row
canonical form. Since, there is a non-zero element above the 2nd pivot in the 3rd column. The
First Matrix is not in row canonical form. Since some pivot are not equal to 1 and there are
non-zero elements above the pivots.
Note: i) The major difference between an echelon matrix and a matrix in row canonical form
is that in an echelon matrix there must be zeros below the pivot, but in a matrix in row canonical
form. Each pivot is equal to 1 and there must also be zeros above the pivots.
ii) The identify matrix I of any size is important special example of the matrix in row
canonical form.
Rank of Matrix: The rank of a matrix A is the maximum number of linearly independent rows
or columns in the matrix.
or, Let A be an matrix of order 𝑚 × 𝑛. The rank of the matrix A is the largest value of r for
which there exists an 𝑟 × 𝑟 sub matrix of A with non-zero determinant.
or, Let A be an 𝑚 × 𝑛 matrix and let AR be the row echelon form of A. Then the rank of A is
the number non-zero rows of AR.

Md. Belal Hossen Linear Algebra & Fourier Transforms-(MATHM221)

Assistant Professor & Coordinator,
Dept. of CSE,
Uttara University
1
Note: i) The rank of a matrix A is denoted by rank (A) or p (A).
ii) The rank of null matrix (zero matrix) is zero and the rank of a matrix of order 𝑚 × 𝑛
cannot be greater than m or n.
iii) An n-rowed square matrix A has a rank 𝑟 < 𝑛 if |A| = 0 . In this a is called a singular
matrix, The matrix A has rank 𝑟 = 𝑛 if |A| ≠ 0 and is then called a non-singular matrix.
1 2 0 7
Example: The matrix A  0 2 0 2 has two linearly independent rows. So it rank is 2.
0 0 0 0
Row Rank of Matrix:
The row rank of a matrix A is the maximum number of linearly independent rows of A.
OR
The number of non-zero rows in the row echelon form of a matrix A is called the rank of the
matrix A.
Example:
1 2 3 4 5
0 1  1 3 2 
1 2  3   1 2 1

i) 0 1  3  ii) 0 0 0 0 0 iii) 0 1 1
 
1 1  3 0 0 0 0 1  0 0 0
Row rank =3 0 0 0 0 3 Row rank =2
Row rank =4
Column Rank of Matrix: The column rank of a matrix A is the maximum number of linearly
independent column of A.
or, The number of non-zero column in column reduced form (echelon form) of a matrix A is
called the column rank of A.
Example:
 1 0 0 0 0
 0 0 0 0 0
 2 0 0 0   1 0 0 
   
iii) 2 1 0
1 2 0 0 0
i) 1 3 0 0 ii)  
1 2  2 0   1 3 5 0 0 1 1 0
  2 5 3 0 0
Column rank =3   Column rank =2
  1 1 2 1 0
Column rank =4
Canonical Matrix: A matrix in which all the terms of the principal diagonal are one and zero
but not all zero and all one rows or columns are precedes all zeros row or column is called
canonical matrix.
Example:
1 0 0 
1 0 0 0 0 1 0  1 0 0 

i) 0 1 0 0
 ii)   
iii) 0 1 0

0 0 1 
0 0 1 0   0 0 0
0 0 0 

Md. Belal Hossen Linear Algebra & Fourier Transforms-(MATHM221)

Assistant Professor & Coordinator,
Dept. of CSE,
Uttara University
2
Problem: Find the rank of each of the following matrixes.
1 2 3  1 2 3
 2 3  
i)   ii) 2 3 4 iii) 2 4 6
4 6 3 5 7  3 6 9
Solution-(i):
 2 3
Let, A   
 4 6
2 3
Here, A   12  12  0
4 6
So, The rank is less than 2.
But not every element of A is zero.
i.e |2| ≠ 0
So, the matrix rank is 1.
Solution-(ii):
1 2 3 
Let, A  2 3 4
3 5 7 
1 2 3
Then A  2 3 4
3 5 7
 1(21  20)  2(14  12)  3(10  9)
 1 4  3
 44
0
So, The rank is less than 3.
Now, let us take two- rowed minor (sub matrix) of A. Say
1 2
2 3  3  4  1  0
 
1 2
Here A  0 but  0
 2 3
So, the rank is 2.
Solution-(iii):
1 2 3 
Let, A  2 4 6
3 6 9

Md. Belal Hossen Linear Algebra & Fourier Transforms-(MATHM221)

Assistant Professor & Coordinator,
Dept. of CSE,
Uttara University
3
 1 2 3
Then A  2 4 6
3 6 9
 1(36  36)  2(18  18)  3(12  12)
 000
0
So, the rank of A is less than 3.
Let us consider the two-rowed sub matrix (minor) of A. Say
4 6 2 6
 36  36  0;  18  18  0;
6 9 3 9
2 4 2 3
 12  12  0;  18  18  0
3 6 6 9
1 3 1 2
 9  9  0; 660
3 9 3 6
2 3 1 3
 12  12  0;  66  0
4 6 2 6
1 2
 4  4  0;
2 4
So, All determinant of the sub matrix of A are zero.
Thus the rank of A is less than 2.
But |4| ≠ 0 or |6| ≠ 0.
Hence rank of A is 1.
 1 2 3
Problem: Find the rank of A   2 3 4 
 0 7 10
Solution:
 1 2 3
Given, A   2 3 4 
 0 7 10
First we will reduce the matrix A to row echelon form by the elementary row operation.

1 2 3 
~ 0 7 10 𝑅́2 = 𝑅2 + 2𝑅1
0 7 10
1 2 3 
~ 0 7 10 𝑅́3 = 𝑅3 − 𝑅2
0 0 0 
The above matrix is in echelon (row) form and it has two non-zero row.
So, rank of the given matrix is 2.

Md. Belal Hossen Linear Algebra & Fourier Transforms-(MATHM221)

Assistant Professor & Coordinator,
Dept. of CSE,
Uttara University
4
Problem: Find the echelon form and canonical form (row reduced echelon form) of the matrix
 1 2  1 2 1
A  2 4 1  2 3 .
3 6 2  6 5
Solution: First we will reduce the matrix A to echelon form by the elementary row operations.
 1 2  1 2 1
Given, A  2 4 1  2 3
3 6 2  6 5
1 2  1 2 1 𝑅́ = 𝑅 − 2𝑅
~ 0 0 3  6 1
2 2 1

𝑅́3 = 𝑅3 − 3𝑅1
0 0 5  12 2
1 2  1 2 1
~ 0 0 3  6 1 𝑅3 = 3𝑅3 − 5𝑅2
́

0 0 0  6 1
The Matrix is in row echelon form and the rank of A is 3.
 
1 2  1 2 1 
~ 0 0 3 0 0 
 1
0 0 0 1  
 6
 
1 2  1 2 1  1
~ 0 0 1 0 0  𝑅́2 = 𝑅2
 1 3
 0 0 0 1  
 6
 
1 2  1 2 1  𝑅́1 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2
~ 0 0 1 0 0 
 1
0 0 0 1  
 6
 4 
 1 2 0 0 𝑅́1 = 𝑅1 + 2𝑅3
3 
~ 0 0 1 0 0 
 1
0 0 0 1  
 6 
This matrix is an canonical form.

Md. Belal Hossen Linear Algebra & Fourier Transforms-(MATHM221)

Assistant Professor & Coordinator,
Dept. of CSE,
Uttara University
5
Problem: Find the rank of the following matrix.
1 2 1 2
1 3  1 2 4 1 5 2
2 4 1 
0  6 2  1 2
 3 1
i) ii)  iii) 3 2 3 2
  1 0  2  5  1 6 4  
    3 3 3 3
 3 1 7  8 7 0 7
5 3 5 3
 3  10 5 
Problem: Reduce A   1 12  2 echelon form. Hence find the rank of the matrix.
 1  5 2 
 3  10 5 
Solution: Let, A   1 12  2
 1  5 2 
 1  5 2  𝑅1 ↔ 𝑅3
Step- I: ~  1 12  2
 3  10 5 
1  5 2 
Step- II: ~ 0 7 0  𝑅́2 = 𝑅2 + 𝑅1
0 5  1 𝑅́3 = 𝑅3 − 3𝑅1
1  5 2 
~ 0 1 0 
1
Step- III: 𝑅́2 = 𝑅
7 2
0 5  1
1  5 2 
Step- IV: ~ 0 1 0 
0 0  1 𝑅́3 = 𝑅3 − 5𝑅2
Which is a matrix in echelon form.
The above echelon matrix has thus non-zero rows. Hence the rank of the matrix is 3.
Problem: Reduce the following matrix to the normal or canonical form and hence obtain its
 1 2 0  1
rank. A   3 4 1 2 
 2 3 2 5 
Solution: We will apply both elementary column and row operation to the matrix A for
reducing it to the normal form.
 1 2 0  1
A   3 4 1 2 
 2 3 2 5 

Md. Belal Hossen Linear Algebra & Fourier Transforms-(MATHM221)

Assistant Professor & Coordinator,
Dept. of CSE,
Uttara University
6
 1 0 0 0 ́
 𝐶2 = 𝐶2 − 2𝐶1
~  3 2 1 5
𝐶́4 = 𝐶4 + 𝐶1
 2 7 2 3
1 0 0 0 ́
𝐶2 = 𝐶2 + 2𝐶3
~  3 0 1 0 
𝐶́4 = 𝐶4 − 5𝐶3
 2 11 2  7
1 0 0 0 𝐶́ = 𝐶 + 𝐶
~ 4 0 1 0
1 1 3
7
́
0 11 2 0 𝐶4 = 𝐶4 + 11 𝐶2
1 0 0 0
~ 0 0 1 0 𝑅́2 = 𝑅2 − 4𝑅1
0 11 2 0
1 0 0 0
~ 0 0 1 0 𝑅́3 = 𝑅3 − 2𝑅2
0 11 0 0
1 0 0 0
~ 0 1 0 0 𝐶2 ↔ 𝐶3
0 0 11 0
1 0 0 0
1
~ 0 1 0 0 𝐶́3 = 𝐶
11 3
0 0 1 0
1 0 0 0 
~ I 3 0 where I 3  0 1 0 and 0  0
 
0 0 1 0
Hence the rank of A is 3.
Problem: Reduce the following matrix to the normal or canonical form and hence
0 2 3 4 
obtain its rank. A  2 3 5 4 
4 8 13 12 
0 2 3 4 
Solution: Given, A  2 3 5 4 
4 8 13 12 
We will apply both elementary column and row operation to the matrix A for reducing it to the
normal form.

Md. Belal Hossen Linear Algebra & Fourier Transforms-(MATHM221)

Assistant Professor & Coordinator,
Dept. of CSE,
Uttara University
7
 2 3 5 4
~ 0 2 3 4  𝑅1 ↔ 𝑅2
4 8 13 12 
1 3 5 4
~ 0 2 3 4 
1
𝐶́1 = 𝐶1
2
2 8 13 12 
1 3 5 4
~ 0 2 3 4 𝑅́3 = 𝑅3 − 2𝑅1
0 2 3 4
1 3 5 4
~ 0 2 3 4 𝑅́3 = 𝑅3 − 𝑅2
0 0 0 0
1 0 0 0 𝐶́2 = 𝐶2 − 3𝐶1
~ 0 2 3 4 𝐶́ = 𝐶 − 5𝐶
3 3 1
0 0 0 0 𝐶́ = 𝐶 − 4𝐶
4 4 1
1 0 0 0
~ 0 1 3 4 𝐶́2 = 1 𝐶2
2
0 0 0 0
1 0 0 0
𝐶́3 = 𝐶3 − 3𝐶2
~ 0 1 0 0
0 0 0 0 𝐶́4 = 𝐶4 − 4𝐶2
 I 0 0
~ 3 
 0 0 0
This is normal form of the given matrix and it has two non-zero rows.
Therefore, rank of the matrix is 2.
Problem: Find the rank of the following matrix:
1 3  2  1 
 1 1 2 0   1 3 5 6  2 6  4  2
i)  1 1 1 1  ii)  4 1  2 4 iii)  
1 3  2 1 
 1  3 0  2  2 0 3 1   
2 6 1  1 

Md. Belal Hossen Linear Algebra & Fourier Transforms-(MATHM221)

Assistant Professor & Coordinator,
Dept. of CSE,
Uttara University
8