Example

3 2 3 2 3
Let the matrix 𝐴 = ( ) and the augmented matrix 𝐴𝑏 = ( )
−6 −4 −6 −4 0
 The rank of a matrix is the order of the largest minor that is different from zero.

The largest minor of A is of order 2 (A is a 2×2 matrix) so calculate |A|= (3× −4) − (2 × −6)=0

So the rank of A ≠2; it’s equal to the next largest minor which is 1 rank A=1

𝐴𝑏 is a rectangular matrix of order 2×3 so to calculate the rank we take the min (2,3)=2.

Hence we will take any 2×2 matrix from 𝐴𝑏 and calculate its determinant.

We can take the same as matrix A which we know that its determinant is zero. However, we cannot
conclude that the rank of 𝐴𝑏 ≠2 because we must calculate the determinant of all the 2×2 matrices
from 𝐴𝑏 and find that their values are zero to assume that the rank of 𝐴𝑏 ≠2. Hence, we take
3 3
another 2×2 matrix from 𝐴𝑏 ( ) (First and third column from 𝐴𝑏 ) and its determinant is
−6 0
18≠ 0; we found a 2×2 minor from 𝐴𝑏 with a value ≠ 0 rank 𝐴𝑏 =2

rank A ≠ rank 𝐴𝑏 the system is inconsistent (no solution).