[Math] Without multiplying matrices, find bases for the row and column spaces of A:

linear algebra

Without multiplying matrices, find bases for the row and column spaces of A:
$$A=
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 2 \\
4 & 5 \\
2 & 7 \\
\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}
3 & 0 & 3 \\
1 & 1 & 2 \\
\end{bmatrix}
$$

How do you know from these shapes tha A cannot be invertible?

I don't know how to figure this out without multiplying?
I think the bases can be constructed by the linear combinations of the matrices where the numbers of the second matrix are the coefficients, something like this would give us the first column in $A$ after multiplication:
$$3\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 4 \\ 2 \\ \end{bmatrix} +1\begin{bmatrix} 2 \\ 5 \\ 7 \\ \end{bmatrix}$$

Best Answer

Since the first matrix has rank $2$, the rank of the product $A$ will be at most $2$. Since $A$ is a $3 \times 3$ matrix, it will not be invertible.

As to the column space, you are right, it will consist of all the linear combinations of the two columns of the left matrix.

The argument for the row space is similar to the argument you are using for the columns. Note that the first row of $A$ will be $$1 \cdot \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 0 & 3 \\ \end{bmatrix} + 2 \cdot \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 2 \\ \end{bmatrix}$$

Note that in determining the column and row spaces you are also proving the first statement about the rank.

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