Rank using minors.

The rank of A is the largest order of any non-zero minor in A.

Example

Rank of 2 × 2 matrices

Let us first see how to compute the rank of a 2 × 2 matrix:

Example

Find the rank of the matrix

Let A=

Order of A is 2 × 2 ∴ ρ(A)≤ 2

Consider the second order minor

There is a minor of order 2, which is not zero. ∴ρ (A) = 2.

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Find the rank of the matrix

Order of A is 2 × 2 ∴ρ(A)≤ 2

Consider the second order minor

Since the second order minor vanishes, ρ(A) ≠ 2

Consider a first order minor |−5| ≠ 0

There is a minor of order 1, which is not zero

∴ ρ (A) = 1.

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Find the rank of the matrix

Solution:

Let A=

Order of A is 3x3

∴ ρ (A) ≤ 3

Consider the third order minor =6≠0

There is a minor of order 3, which is not zero

∴ρ (A) = 3.

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Find the rank of the matrix

Solution:

Let A=
Order of A is 3x3

∴ ρ (A) ≤ 3

Consider the third order minor

Since the third order minor vanishes, therefore ρ(A) ≠ 3

Consider a second order minor

There is a minor of order 2, which is not zero.

∴ ρ(A) = 2.

Find the rank of the matrix

Solution:

Let A =

Order of A is 3 × 4

∴ ρ(A)≤ 3.

Consider the third order minors

Since all third order minors vanishes, ρ(A) ≠ 3.

Now, let us consider the second order minors,

Consider one of the second order minors

There is a minor of order 2 which is not zero.

∴ρ (A) = 2.
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Find the rank of the matrix

1 0 2 1
A= 0 2 4 2
0 2 2 1

Solution
We obtain the determinants of order 3 by keeping all the rows and deleting

one column from A. So there are four different minors of order 3. We

compute one of them to illustrate

1 0 2
.0 2 4= - 4
0 2 2

The maximal minors have order 3, and we found that the one obtained by
deleting the last column is −4 ≠0. Hence rk(A) = 3.

1 2 1 −1
Example Find the rank of the matrix 9 5 2 2
7 1 0 4
The maximal minors have order 3, so we compute the 4 minors of order 3. The first one is

1 2 1
9 5 2 = 7 · (−1) + (−1) · (−7) = 0
7 1 0
The other three are also zero.

Since all minors of order 3 are zero, the rank must be rk(A) < 3.

We continue to look at the minors of order two.

1 2
The first one is = 5-18 = -13≠ 0. It is not necessary to compute any
9 5
more minors, and we conclude that rank(A) = 2.