# Math Help - Compaing the Rank of Matrices

1. ## Compaing the Rank of Matrices

Hey guys,
Having a bit of trouble with: Prove that, for m x n matrices A and B:

$rank(A+B) \leq rank(A)+rank(B)$

Any help?
Peter

2. suppose rank(A) = r, and rank(B) = s.

then for any vector v in R^n, we can write A(v) = a1v1 +a2v2 +....arvr, where the v's are linearly independent column vectors of A.

similarly we can write B(v) = b1u1 + b2u2 +...+ bsus, where the u's are linearly independent column vectors of B.

then A+B(v) = A(v) + B(v) = a1v1 + a2v2 +...+ arvr + b1u1 + b2u2 +...+ bsus

so {v1,v2,...,vr,u1,u2,...,us} is a spanning set for the column space of A+B.

thus dim((A+B)(R^n)) ≤ r + s.

(the (disjoint) union of a basis for col(A) and a basis for col(B) might not be a basis for col(A+B), but it certainly contains one, just take out the linearly dependent elements).

3. Does this proof assume that the columns of the matrices span all of R^n? If so, how do I know that's a reasonable assumption to make?

4. No, it doesn't. Nothing is said or assumed about $R^n$.