Linear Combination of Vectors

Rank of matrix
• The maximum number of linearly independent rows (or
columns) of A.

Example:
has rank 3. The column vectors are
not linearly independent.

Hence the columns are

not independent.
Therefore, rank is not 4.
Rank of matrix
• Alternative definition: Equal to the dimension of the
largest square sub-matrix of A that has a non-zero
determinant.

Example:
has rank 3
Rank and singular matrices
• If A is has the dimension nxn, then
Rank(A) = n only if A is invertible (non-singular).

• If A is has the dimension nxn, then

Rank(A) = n only if det(A) is not zero.

• If A is has the dimension nxn, then

Rank(A) < n only if A is not invertible (singular) or
if det(A) = 0.

• In general, if A is has the dimension nxn, then

Rank(A) ≤ n