Nullity of a matrix A
Definition
Nullity (A) = total number of columns of A − rank(A).
Remarks: If A is an n × m matrix and TA : Rm → Rn is defined by A, then
rank(TA ) = rank(A)
Nullity (TA ) = nullity (A).
Dimension theorem for linear transformation:
Definition
Let T : V → W be a linear transformation from n-dimensional vector space V to a vector
space W . Then
Rank(T ) + Nullity (T ) = n.
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Exercise
−1 2 0 4 5 −3
3 −7 2 0 1 4
1) Let TA : R6 → R4 defined by TA (x) = Ax, where A =
2 −5 2 4
.
6 1
4 −9 2 −4 −4 7
Determine the rank and nullity of T
A .
−1 2 0 4 5 −3
0 −1 2 12 16 −5
Answers: Row echelon form is 0
,
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
rank(TA ) = 2, Nullity (TA ) = 6 − 2 = 4.
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Matrices of general linear transformations
In this section, we show that a linear transformation can be represented by a matrix. Here, we
normally use the bases of the vector spaces V and W of a linear transformation T : V → W .
How? See in the example below.
Example
x2
x
Let T : R2 → R3 be the linear map defined by T 1 = −5x1 + 13x2 . Find the matrix
x2
−7x1 + 16x2
2 0 3
representation of T with respect to B ={u
the bases 1 , u2 } for
Rand B = {v1 , v2 , v3 } for R
1 1 0
3 5
where u1 = , u2 = , v1 = 0 , v2 = 2 , v3 = 1.
1 2
−1 2 2
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Solution
Let [T ]B,B 0 be the matrix of T with respect to the bases B = {u1 , u2 } and B 0 = {v1 , v2 , v3 }.
Then [T ]B,B 0 = [[T (u1 )]0B |[T (u2 )]0B ].
1 2
3 5
So we proceed as follows: T (u1 ) = T = −2 and T (u2 ) = T
= 1 .
1 2
−5 −3
0
We write each of the image vectors as a linear combination of vectors in B as follows.
T (u1 ) = xv1 + yv2 + zv3
1 1 1 0
−2 = x 0 + y 2 + z 1 .
−5 −1 2 2
Hence we have the following simultaneous equations:
x + y = 1, 2y + z = −2, −x + 2y + 2z = −5.(Solve these equations simultaneously and
check that you get x = 1, y = 0, z = −2)
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1
Therefore, we have [T (u1 )]0B = 0 .
−2
T (u2 ) = xv1 + yv2 + zv3
2 1 1 0
1 = x 0 + y 2 + z 1 .
−3 −1 2 2
Hence we have the following simultaneous equations:
x + y = 2, 2y + z = 1, −x + 2y + 2z = −3.(Solve these equations simultaneously and
check that you get x = 3, y = −1).
1, z =
3
Therefore, we have [T (u2 )]0B = 1 .
−1
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1 3
Therefore [T ]B,B 0 = 0 1 and we are done!
−2 −1
Exercise:
x2
x
1) Let T : R2 → R3 be the linear map defined by T 1 = −5x1 + 13x2 . Find the
x2
−7x1 + 16x2
thebases B= {u 2 0
matrix representation of T with respect to 1 , u2 } for
Rand B = {v1 , v2 , v3 }
1 −1 0
2 4
for R3 where u1 = , u2 = , v1 = 0 , v2 = 2 , v3 = 1.
1 2
1 2 2
x1
x + x2
2) Let R3 → R2 be defined by L x2 = 1 . Let B be the standard basis of R3 and
x2 − x3
x3
0 2
B the standard basis of R . Find the matrix A associated with L.
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