[Math] For a projection matrix, is the left nullspace equal to the nullspace

linear algebra

Projecting onto a subspace, the vectors that project to the null vector (i.e. the nullspace vectors) are those with no component in the column space — they are orthogonal to the column space. The vectors that are orthogonal to the column space are the left nullspace.

Question: For a projection matrix $A$, does the above argument prove that $N(A) = N(A^T)$?

It seems like the dimensions make sense for that to be true, because a projection matrix must be square (since $P^T=P$ and also since $P^2 = P$) and $$\dim N(A^T) = m – \dim C(A) = n-r = n – \dim C(A^T) = \dim N(A) .$$

(I'm new to this material, so simple language is appreciated.) Thanks!

Best Answer

If $P$ is an orthogonal projection, then it follows that $P = P^T$ and hence $N(P) = N(P^T)$. However, if $P$ is not orthogonal, then it may not be true that $N(P) = N(P^T)$. For example, consider the (non-orthogonal $\iff$ non-symmetric) projection matrix

$$ P = \left[ \begin{array}{cc} 0 & 1\\ 0 & 1\\ \end{array} \right] $$

It is clear that $N(P)=\{(a,0)\in\mathbb{R}^2\,|\, a\in\mathbb{R}\}$ and $N(P^T) = \{(a,-a)\in\mathbb{R}^2\,|\, a\in\mathbb{R}\}$. The only point they have in common is the zero vector.

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