[Math] Find a basis for row(A) that consists of rows of A and find a basis for col(A) that consists of columns of A

linear algebravector-spaces

This is matrix A:

$$ \left[
\begin{array}{ccccc}
1&2&0&2&7\\
-2&-4&1&-1&-3\\
1&2&1&2&6\\
-1&-2&2&1&3\\
\end{array}
\right] $$

What I usually do to find a basis of col(A) and row(A) is to find the RREF of A first, then use the corresponding pivot columns in A as the basis of col(A) and use the non-zero rows in RREF as the basis of row(A). So my way of finding the basis of col(A) ends up with a basis that consists of columns of A. But how to find a basis of row(A) that consists of rows in A?

Best Answer

As stated in the comment, transpose the matrix and you can find a basis of rows of $A$ that consist of rows in $A$.

Sometimes, a little observation might helps.

For your matrix, the sum of the second and third row produces the $4$-th row.

Clearly, the first two rows are linearly independent.

If the rank is $2$, then you can pick the first $2$ rows to form the basis.

If the rank is $3$, then you can pick the first $3$ rows.