The rank of a matrix

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Minors of order k

Definition
Let A be an m × n - matrix. A minor of order k of A is a determinant of a
k × k sub-matrix of A.

We obtain the minors of order k from A by first deleting m − k rows and

n − k columns, and then computing the determinant. There are usually
many minors of A of a given order.
 
1 0 2 1
Example: Find the minors of order 3 of the matrix 0 2 4 2
0 2 2 1

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The rank of a matrix

Definition
Let A be an m × n - matrix. We say that A has rank r ∈ N if
there is a minor of order r of A which differs from 0,
every minor of order greater than r of A is equal to 0.
 
−3 5 4
Example: Find the rank of the matrix A =  4 −2 −1
1 3 3
We have rank(A) = 2 because det(A) = 0 and the minor
 
 −3 5 
C33 =   = −26 6= 0
4 −2

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Computing the rank

Start with the minors of maximal order k. If there is one that is non-zero,
then rank(A) = k. If all maximal minors are zero, then rank(A) < k, and
we continue with the minors of order k1 and so on, until we find a minor
that is non-zero. If all minors of order 1 (i. e. all entries in A) are zero the
rank(A) = 0.
Example: Find the rank of the matrix
 
1 0 2 1
0 2 4 2
0 2 2 1

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Properties

rank(A) ≤ min{m, n }
rank(AT ) = rank(A)
If A is a square matrix of order n then

A is invertible ⇐⇒ det(A) 6= 0 ⇐⇒ rank(A) = n

The elementary row operation do not change the rank of a matrix.

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Row-Echelon Form

The leading entry in all the entire rows of a matrix is considered as the
first non zero entry in that row.

A matrix is in row echelon form when it satisfies the conditions

All nonzero rows are above any rows of all zeros.
Each leading entry of a row is in a column to the right of the leading
entry of the row above it
All entries in a column below a leading entry are zero.
 
 ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
 0  ∗ ∗ ∗
 0 0 0 0 0  − a row echelon form
 

0 0 0 0 0
By means of a finite sequence of elementary row operations, called
Gaussian elimination, any matrix can be transformed to row echelon form.
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Find the rank of a matrix using elementary row operations
elementary operations
A −−−−−−−−−−−→ B (row echelon form)
=⇒ rank(A) = number of non-zero rows of B
 
1 −2 3 5
 2 1 0 3
Example: Find the rank of matrix A = 
 −1 3 1

0
1 1 2 4
   
1 −2 3 5 1 −2 3 5
0 5 −6 −7 −6 −7 
 −→ 0 5

A −→ 
0 1 0 0 −26 −32

4 5 
0 3 −1 −1 0 0 −13 −16
 
1 −2 3 5
0 5 −6 −7 
−→ 
0 0 −26
 =⇒ rank(A) = 3
−32
0 0 0 0
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