The Rank and Nullity of a matrix
• The Rank of an m × n matrix A, denoted by rank A or ρ(A), is
defined to be the number of non-zero rows in the reduced row echelon
form of A. It is also denoted as ρ.
• The nullity of A, denoted by nul A, is defined to be n − rankA.
• Clearly the rank of a matrix equals the number of pivot columns
and the nullity equals the number of non pivot columns in the
matrix.
• If an n × n matrix has rank n, then its reduced row echelon form is In .
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 1 / 12
Note
If Ax = b is the matrix form of a consistent system of linear equations,
then
1 The number of basic variables in a general solution of the system
equals the rank of A.
2 The number of free variables in a general solution of the system
equals the nullity of A.
3 A consistent system of linear equations has a unique solution if and
only if the nullity of its coefficient matrix equals zero.
4 A consistent system of linear equations has infinitely many solutions
if and only if the nullity of its coefficient matrix is positive
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 2 / 12
[Link] the following system of linear equations
x1 + x2 + x3 = 1
x1 + 3x3 = −2 + s
x1 − x2 + rx3 = 3
1 For what values of r and s is this system of linear equations
inconsistent?
2 For what values of r and s, does the system of linear equations have
infinitely many solutions?
3 For what values of r and s does this system of linear equations have a
unique solution?
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 3 / 12
Solution
The augmented
matrix [A b] reduces
to reduced echelon form
1 1 1 1
[A b] = 0 −1 −3 + s
2
0 0 r − 5 8 − 2s
• For the system of linear equations to be inconsistent we shoud have
r − 5 = 0 and 8 − 2s ̸= 0 i.e r = 5 and s ̸= 4.
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 4 / 12
Solution
The augmented
matrix [A b] reduces
to reduced echelon form
1 1 1 1
[A b] = 0 −1 −3 + s
2
0 0 r − 5 8 − 2s
• For the system of linear equations to be inconsistent we shoud have
r − 5 = 0 and 8 − 2s ̸= 0 i.e r = 5 and s ̸= 4.
• The system of linear equations have infinitely many solutions if nullity
is positive. i.e r = 5 and s = 4.
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 4 / 12
Solution
The augmented
matrix [A b] reduces
to reduced echelon form
1 1 1 1
[A b] = 0 −1 −3 + s
2
0 0 r − 5 8 − 2s
• For the system of linear equations to be inconsistent we shoud have
r − 5 = 0 and 8 − 2s ̸= 0 i.e r = 5 and s ̸= 4.
• The system of linear equations have infinitely many solutions if nullity
is positive. i.e r = 5 and s = 4.
• The system of linear equations has a unique solution if rank = n = 3.
This is possible only if r − 5 ̸= 0 =⇒ r ̸= 5
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 4 / 12
Test for consistency
Theorem
The following conditions are equivalent
• The matrix equation Ax = b is consistent.
• The vector b is a linear combination of the columns of A.
• The reduced row echelon form of the augmented matrix [A b] has no
row of the form [0 0 0 . . . 0 d] where d ̸= 0.
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 5 / 12
Applications of linear system of equations
1. An island’s economy is divided into 3 sectors-tourism, transportation
and services. Suppose that each dollar’s worth of tourism output requires
inputs of $0.30 from the tourism sector, $0.10 from the transportation
sector, and $0.30 from the services sector, each dollar’s worth of
transportation output requires inputs of $0.20 from the tourism sector,
$0.40 from the transportation sector, and $0.20 from the services sector,
and each dollar’s worth of services output requires inputs of $0.05 from
the tourism sector, $0.05 from the transportation sector, and $0.15 from
the services sector
Write the input - output matrix for this economy.
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 6 / 12
1 Write the input - output matrix for this economy.
Tour
Trans Servc
Tour 0.3 0.2 0.05
C = Trans 0.1
0.4 0.05
Servc 0.3 0.2 0.15
2 If the gross production for this economy is $10 million of tourism, $15
million of transportation and $20 million of services, how much input
from the tourism sector is required by the services sector?
Ans: Each dollar’s worth of output from the service sector requires an
input of $0.05 from the tourism sector. Hence a gross output of $20
million of the service sector requires an input of 20(0.05) = $1million
from the tourism sector.
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 7 / 12
3 If the gross production for this economy is $10 million of tourism, $15
million of transportation and $20 million of services, what is the total
value of the inputs consumed by each sector during the production
process?
Ans:The total value of the inputs consumed by each sector during
production process is given by
10 0.3 0.2 0.05 10
C 15 = 0.1 0.05 15 =
0.4
20 0.3 0.2 0.15 20
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 8 / 12
3 If the gross production for this economy is $10 million of tourism, $15
million of transportation and $20 million of services, what is the total
value of the inputs consumed by each sector during the production
process?
Ans:The total value of the inputs consumed by each sector during
production process is given by
10 0.3 0.2 0.05 10 7
C 15 = 0.1 0.05 15 =
0.4 8
20 0.3 0.2 0.15 20 9
During the production process, $7 million, $8million and $9million
input consumed by Tourism, transportation and services sector
respectively.
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 8 / 12
4 If the total outputs of the tourism, transportation and services sectors
are $70 million, $50 milion and $60 million respectively, what is the
net production of each sector?
h iT
x = 70 50 60 is the gross production vector.
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 9 / 12
4 If the total outputs of the tourism, transportation and services sectors
are $70 million, $50 milion and $60 million respectively, what is the
net production of each sector?
h iT
x = 70 50 60 is the gross production vector.
The net production vector is x − Cx=the amount of the gross
production that is not consumed during production process.
Note:Output-input=Net
production orsurplus
vector
70 0.3 0.2 0.05 70
x − Cx = 50 − 0.1 0.05 50 =
0.4
60 0.3 0.2 0.15 60
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 9 / 12
4 If the total outputs of the tourism, transportation and services sectors
are $70 million, $50 milion and $60 million respectively, what is the
net production of each sector?
h iT
x = 70 50 60 is the gross production vector.
The net production vector is x − Cx=the amount of the gross
production that is not consumed during production process.
Note:Output-input=Net
production orsurplus
vector
70 0.3 0.2 0.05 70 36
x − Cx = 50 − 0.1 0.05 50 = 20 , $36million,
0.4
60 0.3 0.2 0.15 60 20
$20million and $20million is the net production of tourism, transport
and services sector respectively.
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 9 / 12
5 What gross production is required to satisfy exactly a demand for
$30million of tourism, $50million of transportation and $40 million of
services?
30
Ans: Demand vector = d = 50
40
We need to find x such that x − Cx = d
3 − C )x = d
(I
0.7 −0.2 −0.05 30
−0.1 0.6 −0.05 x = 50.
−0.3 −0.2 0.85 40
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 10 / 12
x
1
Let x = x2
x3
0.7 −0.2 −0.05 30
The augmented matrix is [I − C d] = −0.1 0.6 −0.05 50
−0.3 −0.2 0.85 40
Applying
elementary
row transformations, we obtain
1 0 0 80
= 0 1 0 105
0 0 1 100
x1 tourism $80
=⇒ x = x2 = trans = $105 is the gross production vector.
x3 services $100
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 11 / 12
Q2. The input-output matrix for an economy with sectors of metals,
nonmetals and services follows
M NM S
M 0.2 0.2 0.1
C = NM 0.4
0.4 0.2
S 0.2 0.2 0.1
1 What is the net production corresponding to a gross production of
$50million of metals, $60 million of non-metals, and $40 million of
services?
2 What gross production is required to satisfy exactly a demand for
$120 million of metals, $180 million of nonmetals, and $150 million of
services?
Dr. Sabitha D’Souza August 29, 2022 12 / 12
