Prove that the matrices have the same rank.

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Homework Statement


Prove that the three matrices have the same rank.


[tex] <br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{c}<br /> A\\<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br /> [/tex]

[tex] <br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{c}<br /> A & A\\<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br /> [/tex]

[tex] <br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{cc}<br /> A & A\\<br /> A & A\\<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br /> [/tex]

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



If elimination is done on the second matrix it will become:
[tex] <br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{c}<br /> A & 0\\<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br /> [/tex]

This means that the rank is still the same as A.

Elimination on the third matrix gives:
[tex] <br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{cc}<br /> A & A\\<br /> 0 & 0\\<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br /> [/tex]

Since no new independent vectors are added, it also has rank A.

I do understand that this is so, but could someone please help me explain this mathematically?

Thanks.
 
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About the only thing different I would say is to suppose that when
[tex] \left[<br /> \begin{array}{c}<br /> A\\<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right][/tex]
is reduced you obtain
[tex] \left[<br /> \begin{array}{c}<br /> R\\<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right][/tex]


Then express your reduced forms of the other two matrices in terms of R instead of A. Refer to the number of nonzero rows in R, and you are done.
 
Hi Billy Bob, thanks for the reply.
Here's the way I think you would do it: (just showing one matrix)

[tex] <br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{c}<br /> A & A\\<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br /> [/tex]

[tex] <br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{c}<br /> R & 0\\<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br /> [/tex]

# non zero rows = r for all matrices.