I have A=((1,2),(2,2),(2,1)) I have found that range(A)={((1),(2),(2)),((2),(2),(1))} and that null(A^T)={((1),(-3/2),(1))} I have been asked to state the rank and nullity theorem for A and A^T. I know the rank and nullity theorem as rank(A) + nullity(A) = n where A is an mxn matrix. I know that nullity(A) is the number of vectors present in the null space of matrix A, but I'm not too sure how to go on from there. Can someone help?

Sandra Terrell

Sandra Terrell

Open question

2022-08-14

I have
A = ( 1 2 2 2 2 1 )
I have found that r a n g e ( A ) = { ( 1 2 2 ) , ( 2 2 1 ) }
and that n u l l ( A T ) = { ( 1 3 2 1 ) }
I have been asked to state the rank and nullity theorem for A and A T . I know the rank and nullity theorem as rank(A) + nullity(A) = n where A is an mxn matrix.
I know that nullity(A) is the number of vectors present in the null space of matrix A, but I'm not too sure how to go on from there.
Can someone help? The solution states dim(null( A T )) + dim(range( A)) = 3

Answer & Explanation

Kelton Glover

Kelton Glover

Beginner2022-08-15Added 17 answers

Since the columns of A are linearly independent, the rank of A is simply 2. Since A has only two columns the Rank-Nullity theorem for A simply says that the nullity of A is 0, rank(A) + nullity(A) = n = 2. Since the rank of A is two, then the dimension of the rowspace is two and in particular this means that the rows are linearly dependent. Thus A T has two linearly independent columns and so its rank is also 2. But as it has three columns, the nullity must be 1 to satisfy the Rank-Nullity theorem.
By simple Gaussian elimination, we get the following Gauss-Jordan forms for A and A T :
G J ( A ) = ( 1 0 0 1 0 0 ) ,
and
G J ( A ) = ( 1 0 0 0 1 0 ) .
From here it is easy to see the ranks and nullities.

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