Module 4 - Basis, Dimension, Rank-Nullity theorem
S. Devi Yamini
Module 4 1 / 27
Overview
1 Basis and Dimension
Module 4 2 / 27
Overview
1 Basis and Dimension
2 Row Space and Column Space
Module 4 2 / 27
Overview
1 Basis and Dimension
2 Row Space and Column Space
3 Null space
Module 4 2 / 27
Overview
1 Basis and Dimension
2 Row Space and Column Space
3 Null space
4 Rank-Nullity Theorem
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Recall Linear Independence and Span
Properties
A set of vectors {v1 , v2 , . . . , vn } are linearly independent if the matrix
A of the vectors is non-singular, that is |A| = ̸ 0.
Let {v1 , v2 , . . . , vn } be a set of vectors. If vi is expressed as a linear
combination of remaining vectors, then {v1 , v2 , . . . , vn } are linearly
dependent.
For n > m, any set of n vectors in Rm are always linearly dependent.
A set S spans a vector space V , then V = L(S) or Span(S).
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Problems
Problem 1
Show that the set of vectors {(1, 1, 1), (0, 1, 1), (0, 0, 1)} are linearly
independent.
Solution: Form the matrix A with the given vectors as vectors.
1 1 1
0 1 1
0 0 1
Clearly |A| =
̸ 0 and hence the given vectors are linearly independent.
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Problems
Problem 1
Show that the set of vectors {(1, 1, 1), (0, 1, 1), (0, 0, 1)} are linearly
independent.
Solution: Form the matrix A with the given vectors as vectors.
1 1 1
0 1 1
0 0 1
Clearly |A| =
̸ 0 and hence the given vectors are linearly independent.
Try!
Prove that the above set of vectors span all of R3
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Basis and Dimension
Basis
Let V be a vector space. A basis for V is a set of linearly independent
vectors that span V .
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Basis and Dimension
Basis
Let V be a vector space. A basis for V is a set of linearly independent
vectors that span V .
Dimension
The number of vectors in a basis of a vector space V is called the
dimension of V , denoted by dim(V )
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Examples
Problem 1
Is S = {(1, 1, 1), (0, 1, 1), (0, 0, 1)}, a basis for R3 ?
Refer Slide 4, it is clear that S is linearly independent and Span(S) = R3 .
Hence S forms a basis for R3 .
Also, dimension of R3 = 3
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Examples
Problem 1
Is S = {(1, 1, 1), (0, 1, 1), (0, 0, 1)}, a basis for R3 ?
Refer Slide 4, it is clear that S is linearly independent and Span(S) = R3 .
Hence S forms a basis for R3 .
Also, dimension of R3 = 3
In general, dim(Rn ) = n
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Examples
Problem 1
Is S = {(1, 1, 1), (0, 1, 1), (0, 0, 1)}, a basis for R3 ?
Refer Slide 4, it is clear that S is linearly independent and Span(S) = R3 .
Hence S forms a basis for R3 .
Also, dimension of R3 = 3
In general, dim(Rn ) = n
Problem 2 - Try!
Show that S = {(1, 2, 1), (2, 9, 0), (3, 3, 4)} in R3 form a basis.
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Examples
Problem 3
Let W1 = {(a, b, c, d) : b − 2c + d = 0},
W2 = {(a, b, c, d) : a = d, b = 2c} be two subspaces of R4 . Find the basis
for W1 , W2 and W1 ∩ W2 .
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Examples
Problem 3
Let W1 = {(a, b, c, d) : b − 2c + d = 0},
W2 = {(a, b, c, d) : a = d, b = 2c} be two subspaces of R4 . Find the basis
for W1 , W2 and W1 ∩ W2 .
Solution:
W1 = {(a, b, c, d) : b − 2c + d = 0}
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Examples
Problem 3
Let W1 = {(a, b, c, d) : b − 2c + d = 0},
W2 = {(a, b, c, d) : a = d, b = 2c} be two subspaces of R4 . Find the basis
for W1 , W2 and W1 ∩ W2 .
Solution:
W1 = {(a, b, c, d) : b − 2c + d = 0}
= {(a, b, c, d) : b = 2c − d}
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Examples
Problem 3
Let W1 = {(a, b, c, d) : b − 2c + d = 0},
W2 = {(a, b, c, d) : a = d, b = 2c} be two subspaces of R4 . Find the basis
for W1 , W2 and W1 ∩ W2 .
Solution:
W1 = {(a, b, c, d) : b − 2c + d = 0}
= {(a, b, c, d) : b = 2c − d}
= {(a, 2c − d, c, d)}
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Examples
Problem 3
Let W1 = {(a, b, c, d) : b − 2c + d = 0},
W2 = {(a, b, c, d) : a = d, b = 2c} be two subspaces of R4 . Find the basis
for W1 , W2 and W1 ∩ W2 .
Solution:
W1 = {(a, b, c, d) : b − 2c + d = 0}
= {(a, b, c, d) : b = 2c − d}
= {(a, 2c − d, c, d)}
= {(a + 0b + 0c + 0d, 0a + 0b + 2c − d, 0a + 0b + c + 0d, 0a + 0b + 0c + d}
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Examples
Problem 3
Let W1 = {(a, b, c, d) : b − 2c + d = 0},
W2 = {(a, b, c, d) : a = d, b = 2c} be two subspaces of R4 . Find the basis
for W1 , W2 and W1 ∩ W2 .
Solution:
W1 = {(a, b, c, d) : b − 2c + d = 0}
= {(a, b, c, d) : b = 2c − d}
= {(a, 2c − d, c, d)}
= {(a + 0b + 0c + 0d, 0a + 0b + 2c − d, 0a + 0b + c + 0d, 0a + 0b + 0c + d}
= {a(1, 0, 0, 0) + b(0, 0, 0, 0) + c(0, 2, 1, 0) + d(0, −1, 0, 1)}
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Examples
Problem 3
Let W1 = {(a, b, c, d) : b − 2c + d = 0},
W2 = {(a, b, c, d) : a = d, b = 2c} be two subspaces of R4 . Find the basis
for W1 , W2 and W1 ∩ W2 .
Solution:
W1 = {(a, b, c, d) : b − 2c + d = 0}
= {(a, b, c, d) : b = 2c − d}
= {(a, 2c − d, c, d)}
= {(a + 0b + 0c + 0d, 0a + 0b + 2c − d, 0a + 0b + c + 0d, 0a + 0b + 0c + d}
= {a(1, 0, 0, 0) + b(0, 0, 0, 0) + c(0, 2, 1, 0) + d(0, −1, 0, 1)}
Hence, the set S = {(1, 0, 0, 0), (0, 2, 1, 0), (0, −1, 0, 1)} span W1 .
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Example
Solution contd.
To prove that S is linearly independent, if
c1 (1, 0, 0, 0) + c2 (0, 2, 1, 0) + c3 (0, −1, 0, 1) = (0, 0, 0, 0)
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Example
Solution contd.
To prove that S is linearly independent, if
c1 (1, 0, 0, 0) + c2 (0, 2, 1, 0) + c3 (0, −1, 0, 1) = (0, 0, 0, 0)
(c1 , 2c2 − c3 , c2 , c3 ) = (0, 0, 0, 0)
Hence, ci = 0 ∀i ∈ {1, 2, 3}
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Example
Solution contd.
To prove that S is linearly independent, if
c1 (1, 0, 0, 0) + c2 (0, 2, 1, 0) + c3 (0, −1, 0, 1) = (0, 0, 0, 0)
(c1 , 2c2 − c3 , c2 , c3 ) = (0, 0, 0, 0)
Hence, ci = 0 ∀i ∈ {1, 2, 3}
So S forms a basis for W1 and the dimension of W1 is 3.
Similarly, try to prove the same for W2 .
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Example
Solution contd.
To prove that S is linearly independent, if
c1 (1, 0, 0, 0) + c2 (0, 2, 1, 0) + c3 (0, −1, 0, 1) = (0, 0, 0, 0)
(c1 , 2c2 − c3 , c2 , c3 ) = (0, 0, 0, 0)
Hence, ci = 0 ∀i ∈ {1, 2, 3}
So S forms a basis for W1 and the dimension of W1 is 3.
Similarly, try to prove the same for W2 .
It can be shown that S1 = {(0, 2, 1, 0), (1, 0, 0, 1)} forms a basis of W2 .
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Example
Solution contd.
To prove that S is linearly independent, if
c1 (1, 0, 0, 0) + c2 (0, 2, 1, 0) + c3 (0, −1, 0, 1) = (0, 0, 0, 0)
(c1 , 2c2 − c3 , c2 , c3 ) = (0, 0, 0, 0)
Hence, ci = 0 ∀i ∈ {1, 2, 3}
So S forms a basis for W1 and the dimension of W1 is 3.
Similarly, try to prove the same for W2 .
It can be shown that S1 = {(0, 2, 1, 0), (1, 0, 0, 1)} forms a basis of W2 .
dim(W2 ) = 2
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Example
Solution contd.
To prove that S is linearly independent, if
c1 (1, 0, 0, 0) + c2 (0, 2, 1, 0) + c3 (0, −1, 0, 1) = (0, 0, 0, 0)
(c1 , 2c2 − c3 , c2 , c3 ) = (0, 0, 0, 0)
Hence, ci = 0 ∀i ∈ {1, 2, 3}
So S forms a basis for W1 and the dimension of W1 is 3.
Similarly, try to prove the same for W2 .
It can be shown that S1 = {(0, 2, 1, 0), (1, 0, 0, 1)} forms a basis of W2 .
dim(W2 ) = 2
Basis for W1 ∩ W2 is {(0, 2, 1, 0)}
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Example
Solution contd.
To prove that S is linearly independent, if
c1 (1, 0, 0, 0) + c2 (0, 2, 1, 0) + c3 (0, −1, 0, 1) = (0, 0, 0, 0)
(c1 , 2c2 − c3 , c2 , c3 ) = (0, 0, 0, 0)
Hence, ci = 0 ∀i ∈ {1, 2, 3}
So S forms a basis for W1 and the dimension of W1 is 3.
Similarly, try to prove the same for W2 .
It can be shown that S1 = {(0, 2, 1, 0), (1, 0, 0, 1)} forms a basis of W2 .
dim(W2 ) = 2
Basis for W1 ∩ W2 is {(0, 2, 1, 0)}
dim(W1 ∩ W2 ) = 1
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Example
Problem 4
Let W be the set of vectors in (x1 , x2 , x3 ) ∈ R3 such that x1 − x2 − x3 = 0.
Prove that W is a subspace of R3 and find the basis for W .
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Example
Problem 4
Let W be the set of vectors in (x1 , x2 , x3 ) ∈ R3 such that x1 − x2 − x3 = 0.
Prove that W is a subspace of R3 and find the basis for W .
Solution: To prove that W is a subspace,
Clearly (0, 0, 0) ∈ W as 0 − 0 − 0 = 0. So, W ̸= ∅
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Example
Proof of Problem 4 continues
To prove that W is closed under vector addition, consider
(x1 , x2 , x3 ), (y1 , y2 , y3 ) ∈ W .
So, x1 − x2 − x3 = 0 and y1 − y2 − y3 = 0
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Example
Proof of Problem 4 continues
To prove that W is closed under vector addition, consider
(x1 , x2 , x3 ), (y1 , y2 , y3 ) ∈ W .
So, x1 − x2 − x3 = 0 and y1 − y2 − y3 = 0
(x1 , x2 , x3 ) + (y1 , y2 , y3 ) = (x1 + y1 , x2 + y2 , x3 + y3 ) ∈ W as
x1 + y1 − (x2 + y2 ) − (x3 + y3 ) = (x1 − x2 − x3 ) + (y1 − y2 − y3 ) = 0
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Example
Proof of Problem 4 continues
To prove that W is closed under vector addition, consider
(x1 , x2 , x3 ), (y1 , y2 , y3 ) ∈ W .
So, x1 − x2 − x3 = 0 and y1 − y2 − y3 = 0
(x1 , x2 , x3 ) + (y1 , y2 , y3 ) = (x1 + y1 , x2 + y2 , x3 + y3 ) ∈ W as
x1 + y1 − (x2 + y2 ) − (x3 + y3 ) = (x1 − x2 − x3 ) + (y1 − y2 − y3 ) = 0
To prove that W is closed under Scalar multiplication
For any k ∈ R and (x1 , x2 , x3 ) ∈ W ,
So, x1 − x2 − x3 = 0
k(x1 , x2 , x3 ) = (kx1 , kx2 , kx3 ) ∈ W as
kx1 − kx2 − kx3 = k(x1 − x2 − x3 ) = 0
Hence, W is a subspace.
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Example
Proof of Problem 4 continues
To find a basis for W ,
W = {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) : x1 − x2 − x3 = 0}
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Example
Proof of Problem 4 continues
To find a basis for W ,
W = {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) : x1 − x2 − x3 = 0}
W = {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) : x1 = x2 + x3 }
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Example
Proof of Problem 4 continues
To find a basis for W ,
W = {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) : x1 − x2 − x3 = 0}
W = {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) : x1 = x2 + x3 }
W = {(x2 + x3 , x2 , x3 )}
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Example
Proof of Problem 4 continues
To find a basis for W ,
W = {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) : x1 − x2 − x3 = 0}
W = {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) : x1 = x2 + x3 }
W = {(x2 + x3 , x2 , x3 )}
W = {(0x1 + x2 + x3 , 0x1 + x2 + 0x3 , 0x1 + 0x2 + x3 )}
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Example
Proof of Problem 4 continues
To find a basis for W ,
W = {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) : x1 − x2 − x3 = 0}
W = {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) : x1 = x2 + x3 }
W = {(x2 + x3 , x2 , x3 )}
W = {(0x1 + x2 + x3 , 0x1 + x2 + 0x3 , 0x1 + 0x2 + x3 )}
W = {x1 (0, 0, 0) + x2 (1, 1, 0) + x3 (1, 0, 1)}
Hence S = {(1, 1, 0), (1, 0, 1)} forms a basis of W (Prove that S is linearly
independent).
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Examples
Problem 5
Find a subset of the following set of vectors which forms a basis for R3 .
{(1, 2, 1), (−1, 1, −1), (1, 1, 1), (4, −1, 2)}
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Examples
Problem 5
Find a subset of the following set of vectors which forms a basis for R3 .
{(1, 2, 1), (−1, 1, −1), (1, 1, 1), (4, −1, 2)}
Solution:
1 −1 1 4
The corresponding matrix is A = 2 1 1 −1
1 −1 1 2
1 0 32
0
The row echelon matrix R equivalent to A is 0 1 − 13 −0
0 0 0 1
The leading coefficients occur in the R11 , R22 , R34 . Hence, columns 1, 2,
and 4 forms a basis. That is,
{(1, 2, 1), (−1, 1, −1), (4, −1, 2)}
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Examples
Problem 6
Let M2×2 be a set of all 2 × 2 matrices with real entries. Prove that M2×2
is a vector space. Also, check whether (i) W = {A ∈ M2×2 : det(A) ̸= 0}
is a subspace or not.(ii) W1 = {A ∈ M2×2 : det(A) = 0} is a subspace or
not. [W is not a subspace and W1 is a subspace]
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Examples
Problem 6
Let M2×2 be a set of all 2 × 2 matrices with real entries. Prove that M2×2
is a vector space. Also, check whether (i) W = {A ∈ M2×2 : det(A) ̸= 0}
is a subspace or not.(ii) W1 = {A ∈ M2×2 : det(A) = 0} is a subspace or
not. [W is not a subspace and W1 is a subspace]
Observations
V = {0} - Trivial Vector space. dim(V ) = 0
V = Rn =⇒ dim(V ) = n. A standard basis for R2 is {(1, 0), (0, 1)}
and R3 is {(1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0), (0, 0, 1)}
V = Pn (R), set of all polynomials of degree less than or equal to n.
dim(V ) = n + 1 since a standard basis is {1, x, x 2 , x 3 , . . . , x n }.
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Dimensions
Observations contd.
V = Mm×n (R), set of all matrices of order m × n with real entries.
dim(V ) = mn
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
For example S = { , , , }
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
forms a basis for M2×2
C, set of all complex numbers over R is a vector space of dimension 2
as its basis is {1, i}.
Any vector space with finite dimension is called Finite dimensional
vector space. Otherwise, infinite dimensional vector space.
Examples of infinite dimensional vector space include C (complex
numbers) over Q (rational numbers), R (real numbers) over Q.
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Row Space and Column Space
Let A be a m × n matrix.
Row Space
It is the subspace spanned by the row vectors of A
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Row Space and Column Space
Let A be a m × n matrix.
Row Space
It is the subspace spanned by the row vectors of A
Column Space
It is the subspace spanned by the Column vectors of A
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Problems
Example
1 2 −1 4
−2 1 7 2
For the matrix A = −1 −4 −1 3 ,
3 2 −7 −1
Row space = Span{(1, 2, −1, 4), (−2, 1, 7, 2), (−1, 4, −1, 3), (3, 2, −7, −1)
(need not be linearly independent)
Column
space= Span{(1, −2, −1, 3), (2, 1, −4, 2), (−1, 7, −1, −7), (4, 2, 3, −1)}
(need not be linearly independent)
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Basis for Row Space and Column Space
How to find the basis for Row Space (Column Space) for any matrix
A?
Reduce the matrix A to its row echelon form R.
The row (column) vectors with leading 1s form the basis of row space
(Column space) of R (and a basis of A as well ).
Equivalent matrices will have same basis for row space (column
space).
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Problems
Problem 1
Find the basis for row space and column space of the matrix A
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Problems
Problem 1
Find the basis for row space and column space of the matrix A
Solution:
1 2 −1 4
−2 1 7 2
A=
−1 −4 −1 3
3 2 −7 −1
1 2 −1 4
0 1 1 −3
The row echelon form of A is ≡
0
0 0 1
0 0 0 0
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solution cont..
Hence, the row vectors containing the leading elements in each row forms
the basis of row space.
S = {(1, 2, −1, 4), (0, 1, 1, −3), (0, 0, 0, 1)} is a basis for row space of A.
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solution cont..
Hence, the row vectors containing the leading elements in each row forms
the basis of row space.
S = {(1, 2, −1, 4), (0, 1, 1, −3), (0, 0, 0, 1)} is a basis for row space of A.
dim(row space of A) = 3
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solution cont..
Hence, the row vectors containing the leading elements in each row forms
the basis of row space.
S = {(1, 2, −1, 4), (0, 1, 1, −3), (0, 0, 0, 1)} is a basis for row space of A.
dim(row space of A) = 3
The column vectors containing the leading elements in each column forms
the basis of column space.
S1 = {(1, 0, 0, 0), (2, 1, 0, 0), (4, −3, 1, 0)}
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solution cont..
Hence, the row vectors containing the leading elements in each row forms
the basis of row space.
S = {(1, 2, −1, 4), (0, 1, 1, −3), (0, 0, 0, 1)} is a basis for row space of A.
dim(row space of A) = 3
The column vectors containing the leading elements in each column forms
the basis of column space.
S1 = {(1, 0, 0, 0), (2, 1, 0, 0), (4, −3, 1, 0)}
dim(column space of A) = 3
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solution cont..
Hence, the row vectors containing the leading elements in each row forms
the basis of row space.
S = {(1, 2, −1, 4), (0, 1, 1, −3), (0, 0, 0, 1)} is a basis for row space of A.
dim(row space of A) = 3
The column vectors containing the leading elements in each column forms
the basis of column space.
S1 = {(1, 0, 0, 0), (2, 1, 0, 0), (4, −3, 1, 0)}
dim(column space of A) = 3
Property
Dimension of row space of any matrix= Dimension of column space of the
matrix= Rank of the matrix
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Problems
Problem 2
1 1 0 2
Find the row space and column space of the matrix A = 2 2 1 2
1 1 1 0
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Problems
Problem 2
1 1 0 2
Find the row space and column space of the matrix A = 2 2 1 2
1 1 1 0
Dim of row space of A is 2 with basis
{(1, 1, 0, 2), (0, 0, 1, 1)}
Dim of column space of A is 2 with basis
{(1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0)}
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Null space
A − m × n matrix
Nullspace(A) = {x ∈ Rn : Ax = 0}
Dimension of Nullspace(A) is referred as nullity of A.
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Null space
A − m × n matrix
Nullspace(A) = {x ∈ Rn : Ax = 0}
Dimension of Nullspace(A) is referred as nullity of A.
Example
1 1 0 2
Given a matrix A = 2 2 1 2, is (a) (1, 2, −1) belong to the
1 1 1 0
nullspace of A (b) (1, 1, 1) belong to the nullspace of A?
(a) x = (1, 2, −1) ∈ nullspace(A) since Ax = 0
(b) x = (1, 1, 1) ∈
/ nullspace(A) since Ax ̸= 0
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Problems
Problem 1
Find
the basis and dimension
of nullspace of the matrix
1 2 0 3
A = 1 2 1 −2
2 4 1 1
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Problems
Problem 1
Find
the basis and dimension
of nullspace of the matrix
1 2 0 3
A = 1 2 1 −2
2 4 1 1
Solution:
1 2 0 3
The matrix A is reduced to row echelon form as R = 0 0 1 −5 To
0 0 0 0
find the nullspace(A), we have to find x = (x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 )t such that
Ax = 0
That is equivalent to
Rx = 0
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Solution contd.
solution
Hence we have, x1 + 2x2 + 3x4 = 0; x3 − 5x4 = 0
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Solution contd.
solution
Hence we have, x1 + 2x2 + 3x4 = 0; x3 − 5x4 = 0
Set x2 and x4 as free variables as the leading ones correspond to x1 and x3 .
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Solution contd.
solution
Hence we have, x1 + 2x2 + 3x4 = 0; x3 − 5x4 = 0
Set x2 and x4 as free variables as the leading ones correspond to x1 and x3 .
Let x2 = k1 and x4 = k2 . Then,
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Solution contd.
solution
Hence we have, x1 + 2x2 + 3x4 = 0; x3 − 5x4 = 0
Set x2 and x4 as free variables as the leading ones correspond to x1 and x3 .
Let x2 = k1 and x4 = k2 . Then,
x1 = −2k1 − 3k2
x3 = 5k2
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Solution contd.
solution
Hence we have, x1 + 2x2 + 3x4 = 0; x3 − 5x4 = 0
Set x2 and x4 as free variables as the leading ones correspond to x1 and x3 .
Let x2 = k1 and x4 = k2 . Then,
x1 = −2k1 − 3k2
x3 = 5k2
Nullspace(A) = {x = (x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 ) : Ax = 0}
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Solution contd.
solution
Hence we have, x1 + 2x2 + 3x4 = 0; x3 − 5x4 = 0
Set x2 and x4 as free variables as the leading ones correspond to x1 and x3 .
Let x2 = k1 and x4 = k2 . Then,
x1 = −2k1 − 3k2
x3 = 5k2
Nullspace(A) = {x = (x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 ) : Ax = 0}
= {(−2k1 − 3k2 , k1 , 5k2 , k2 )}
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Solution contd.
solution
Hence we have, x1 + 2x2 + 3x4 = 0; x3 − 5x4 = 0
Set x2 and x4 as free variables as the leading ones correspond to x1 and x3 .
Let x2 = k1 and x4 = k2 . Then,
x1 = −2k1 − 3k2
x3 = 5k2
Nullspace(A) = {x = (x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 ) : Ax = 0}
= {(−2k1 − 3k2 , k1 , 5k2 , k2 )}
= {k1 (−2, 1, 0, 0) + k2 (−3, 0, 5, 1)}
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Solution contd.
solution
Hence we have, x1 + 2x2 + 3x4 = 0; x3 − 5x4 = 0
Set x2 and x4 as free variables as the leading ones correspond to x1 and x3 .
Let x2 = k1 and x4 = k2 . Then,
x1 = −2k1 − 3k2
x3 = 5k2
Nullspace(A) = {x = (x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 ) : Ax = 0}
= {(−2k1 − 3k2 , k1 , 5k2 , k2 )}
= {k1 (−2, 1, 0, 0) + k2 (−3, 0, 5, 1)}
Hence the basis for nullspace(A) = {(−2, 1, 0, 0), (−3, 0, 5, 1)} and
dim(nullspace(A)) = 2 or nullity (A) = 2
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Rank-Nullity Theorem
Rank of A
Rank of a matrix A is the dimension of its row space (column space) .
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Rank-Nullity Theorem
Rank of A
Rank of a matrix A is the dimension of its row space (column space) .
Nullity of A
Nullity of a matrix A is the dimension of its nullspace.
Module 4 24 / 27
Rank-Nullity Theorem
Rank of A
Rank of a matrix A is the dimension of its row space (column space) .
Nullity of A
Nullity of a matrix A is the dimension of its nullspace.
Rank-nullity theorem
Let A be a m × n matrix. Then
rank(A) + nullity (A) = n
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Problems
Problem 1
1 −3 −1
Find the rank and nullity of the matrix A = −1 4 2
−1 3 0
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Problems
Problem 1
1 −3 −1
Find the rank and nullity of the matrix A = −1 4 2
−1 3 0
Solution:
1 −3 −1
The matrix A is reduced to the row echelon form R = 0 1 1
0 0 1
R contains 3 non zero leading entries.
Hence the dimension of rowspace is 3. So, rank(A) = 3.
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Problems
Solution contd..
To find nullity (A),
we solve the equation Ax = 0 where x = (x1 , x2 , x3 ).
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Problems
Solution contd..
To find nullity (A),
we solve the equation Ax = 0 where x = (x1 , x2 , x3 ).
That is Rx = 0 and hence,
x1 − 3x2 − x3 = 0; x2 + x3 = 0; x3 = 0
Solving, we obtain x = 0.
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Problems
Solution contd..
To find nullity (A),
we solve the equation Ax = 0 where x = (x1 , x2 , x3 ).
That is Rx = 0 and hence,
x1 − 3x2 − x3 = 0; x2 + x3 = 0; x3 = 0
Solving, we obtain x = 0.
So the nullspace of A contains only 0
nullity (A) = 0.
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Problems
Try !
Showthat a vector (1,
2) is or not in the column space of a matrix
1 −2 −1
A=
−2 4 0
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