Institute for JAM, NET, M.Sc. (Ent.), B.Sc.

, I &II Grade
Course: IIT JAM 2021 Module-: Linear Algebra
Unit 2: Rank & System of Linear Equations

( )
1. Consider the system of m linear equations in n unknowns given by Ax = b, where A = aij is a real m  n matrix
and b are m  1 column vectors. Then
(a) If m  n and if the rank of the augmented matrix  A : b  equals the rank of A, then there are infinitely many
solution
(b) There is at least one solution
(c) There is at least one solution, if b is the zero vector
(d) If m = n and if the rank of A is n, then there is a unique solution

2. If M is a 7  5 matrix of rank 3 and N is a 5  7 matrix of rank 5, then rank (MN) is.

(a)5 (b) 3 (c) 2 (d) 1
nn
3. Let A  , B  . consider the two system of linear equation:-
n

i. Ax = b and ii. A ' Az = A ' b then

(a)both (i) and (ii) have same solution
(b) (i) has more solution than (ii)
(c) both (i) and (ii) may not have any solution
(d) (i) may not have any solution but (ii) always has at least one solution
4. Let A be a m  n matrix with row rank =r= column rank. The dimension of the space of solution of the system of
linear equations AX = 0 is.
(a)r (b) n-r (c) m-r (d) min ( m, n ) − r
5. Let M be a m  n ( m  n ) matrix with rank m. Then
(a)for every b in n
, M x = b has unique solution .
(b) for every b in n
, M x = b has a solution but it is not unique (infinite)
(c) b  for which Mx = b has no solution.
m

(d) none of the above

 1 1 0
 −1 1 2 
6. Let M =  then the rank of M is equal to
 2 2 0
 
 −1 0 1
(a)3 (b) 4 (c) 2 (d) 1
7. The following set of equations :-
a11 x1 + a12 x2 + ... + a1n xn = b1
has a solution
a21 x1 + a22 x2 + ... + a2 n xn = b2
Then no. of solution in the equation is:-
(a)unique (b) two (c) three (d) infinite

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8. Consider the statements

(i) R ( A ) + R ( B ) = max R ( A ) , R ( B ) 
(ii) R ( A ) + R ( B ) = min R ( A ) , R ( B ) then
(a)(i) is true but (ii) is false (b) (ii) is true but (i) is false
(c) both are true (d) both are false
9. If Ann matrix, b is n  1 matrix and AX = b then A has unique solution if.
(a) A = 1 (b) A  1
(c) A has upper triangular (d) A has lover triangular
1 
10. Let A be a 3  3 matrix and consider the system of equations AX = 0  then.
 
 −1
(a)if the system is consistent then it has unique solution.
(b) if A is singular then the system has infinitely many solution
(c) if the system is consistent then A  0.
(d) if the system has a unique solution then A  0.
A B 
11. Let A,B,C be a m  n matrix . Then rank   is.
C C 
(a)equal to rank A+ rank B + rank C (b) equal to rank A + rank B – rank C
(c) equal to rank A + rank C – rank B. (d) at least rank A + rank C.
12. Consider the set of equations :-
x+ y+z =2
2x + 2 y + 2z = 4
kx + 3 y + 3 z = 5
(a)for any k  3 there are two LI solutions (b) for any k  3 there is a unique solution
(c) if k = 3 there are two LI solutions (d) if k = 3 there is a unique solution

13. Let P be a 3  3 non – null real matrix. If there exist a 3  2 real matrix Q and a 2  3 real matrix R such that
P = QR , then.
(a) Px = 0 has a unique solution , where 0  3

(b) there exists b  3

such that Px = b has no solution.
(c)there exists a non – zero b  3
such that Px = b has a unique solution.
(d) there exists a non – zero b  3
such that PT x = b has a unique solution.

14. If Rank ( A )  n, then which one of the following is true?

(a) The reduced row echelon form of A has n non-zero rows
(b) The system Ax = 0 has some non-trivial solutions
(c) The matrix A has exactly n pivot positions
(d) None of the above (SAU 2015)

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 Institute for JAM, NET, M.Sc. (Ent.), B.Sc., I &II Grade
15. The system 5x + 7 y = b1 , 2 x + 3 y = b2 is consistent for
(a) All b1 and b2 (b) At least one b1 and b2
(c) No b1 and b2 (d) Exactly one b1 and b2 (SAU 2015)
16. The rank on an m  n matrix A has properties
(a) Rank ( A)  min m, n (b) Rank ( A)  max m, n
(c) Rank ( A)  min m, n (d) Rank ( A)  max m, n (SAU 2015)
1 − 1 2 

17. The rank of the matrix 3 1 4  is

1 1 − 1 
(a) 3 (b) 2 (c) 4 (d) 1 (BHU 2011)
18. The system of equation 2 x − y + 3z = 9, x + y + z = 6, x − y + z = 2 has
(a) A unique non-zero solution (b) Infinitely many solutions
(c) Non solution (d) Zero solution (BHU 2012)
1 2 3 4 5 1
2 3 4 8 6 3
19. Let P =  . Then the rank of the matrix P is
2 4 6 7 10 3 
 
4 7 10 14 16 7 
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4 (JAM MS 2005)
20. Consider the following system of linear equations: x + y + z = 3, x + az = b, y + 2 z = 3. This system has infinite of
solutions if
(a) a = −1, b = 0 (b) a = 1, b = 2 (c) a = 0, b = 1 (d) a = −1, b = 1 (JAM MS 2005)
1 0 1 + x 1 + x
0 1 1 1 
21. Let P =  . Then the determinate of the matrix P is
1 1+ x 0 1 + x
 
1 1+ x 1+ x 0 
(a) 3 ( x + 1) (b) 3 ( x + 1) (c) 3 ( x + 1) (d) ( x + 1)( 2 x + 3)
3 2
(JAM MS 2005)
22. If A and B are 3  3 real matrices such that rank ( AB ) = 1, then rank ( BA ) cannot be
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 3 (JAM MA 2006)
1 2 8 
 
23. The rank of the matrix 2 10 22 is
 
 0 4 12 
(a) 3 (b) 2 (c) 1 (d) 0 (JAM MA 2007)

24. Find all pairs ( a, b ) of real numbers for which the system of equations x + 3 y = 1, 4 x + ay + z = 0, 2 x + 3z = b has
(a) A unique solution
(b) Infinitely many solution
(c) No solution (JAM MA 2009)

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Innovative Institute of Mathematics, S-10, Mahaveer Nagar, Near Jaipur Hospital, Jaipur
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 Institute for JAM, NET, M.Sc. (Ent.), B.Sc., I &II Grade
x + 3y + 2z = k
25. The system of equations 2 x + y − 4 z = 4
5 x − 14 z = 10
(a)has unique solution for k = 2
(b) has infinitely many solution for k = 2
(c) has no solution for k = 2
(d) has unique solution for any k  2
(JAM MS 2009)
( )
26. Let P = pij be a 50  50 matrix where pij = min ( i, j ) ; i, j = 1....,50. Then the rank of P equals.
(a)1 (b) 2 (c)25 (d)50 (JAM MS 2010)

  1 1   x   1
    
27. Find the value(s) of  for which the following system of linear equations  1  1   y  =  1
1 1    z  1
    
(a) Has a unique solution
(b) Has infinitely many solutions
(c) Has no solution (JAM MS 2012)
28. Consider the linear system x + y + 2 z =  , x + 4 y + z = 4,3 y − z =  in the unknowns x, y and z. If the above
system always has a solution then the value of  +  is equal to………… (JAM MS 2013)
29. In which case the system of equations
x1 − 2 x2 + x3 = 3
2 x1 − 5 x2 + 2 x3 = 3
x1 + 2 x2 +  x3 = 
has infinite number of solutions?
(a)  = 1,  = −19 (b)  = −1,  = 19
(c)  = 2,  = 18 (d)  = 1,  = 19
(JAM MS 2014)
30. The system of linear equations
x − y + 2 z = b1
x + 2 y − z = b2
2 y − 2 z = b3

Is inconsistent when ( b1 , b2 , b3 ) equals.

(a) ( 2, 2, 0 ) (b) ( 0,3, 2 )

(c) ( 2, 2,1) (d) ( 2, −1, −2 ) (JAM MA 2014)

31. Let P and Q be two real matrices of size 4  6 and 5  4 ,respectively. If rank ( Q ) = 4 and rank ( QP ) = 2 , then
rank ( P ) is equal to ................... (JAM MA 2015)

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 Institute for JAM, NET, M.Sc. (Ent.), B.Sc., I &II Grade
32. The system of equations
x + y + 2z = 2
2x + 3y − z = 5
4 x + 7 y + cz = 6
Does NOT have a solution . Then the value of c must be equal to................ (JAM MS 2015)
1 2 0 2
 −1 − 2 1 1 
33. Let P =  then rank of P equals.
1 2 −3 −7
 
1 2 − 2 − 4

(a)4 (b) 3 (c) 2 (d) 1 (JAM MS 2016)

 1 1   x1 
 
34. Let M = 1  1 ,  = 1,  ,  ,  
 
and x = x2  3
. Then Mx = 0 has infinitely many solution if
   
1 1    x3 
trace ( M ) is................. (JAM MA 2016)
1  0
   
35. Let v1 = 1 and v2 = 1 . Let M be the matrix whose columns are v1 , v2 , 2v1 − v2 , v1 + 2v2 in that order. Then the
   
 0  1 
number of linearly independent solutions of the homogeneous system of linear equation Mx = 0 is..................
(JAM MA 2017)
36. Let P be a 7  7 matrix of rank 4 with real entries. Let a  7
be a column vector. Then the rank of P + aaT is at
least. .......................... ( JAM MA 2017)
be such that u = (1 2 3 5) and v = ( 5 3 2 1) . Then the equation uvT x = v has.
T T
37. Let u, v  4

(a)infinitely many solution (b) no solution.

(c) exactly one solution. (d) exactly two solution. (JAM MS 2017)
38. Let M =  i =1 X i X , where X = 1 − 1 1 0 , X = 1 1 0 1 , X = 1 3 1 0 and X = 1 1 1 0.
4 T T T T T
i 1 2 3 4

Then the rank of M equals.......................... (JAM MS 2018)

39. Let m, n  , m  n, P  M nm ( ) , Q  M mn ( ) . Then which of the following is (are) NOT possible?
(a) rank ( PQ ) = n (b) rank ( QP ) = m (c) rank ( PQ ) = m
m + n m+n
(d) rank ( QP ) =   , the smallest integer larger than or equal to (JAM MA 2018)
 2  2

40. Consider the following system of three linear equations in four unknowns

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x1 + x2 , x3 + x4 = 4,
x1 + 2 x2 + 3x2 + 4 x4 = 5,
x1 + 3x2 + 5 x3 + kx4 = 5.

If the system has no solutions, then k = ............................ (JAM MA 2019)

41. Consider the following system of linear equations x + y + 5 z = 3, x + 2 y + mz = 5 and x + 2 y + 4 z = k The system
of consistent if.
(a) m  4 (b) k  5
(c) m = 4 (d) k = 5 (IIT – JAM 2020)

42. Let D be a non-zero n  n real matrix with n  2. Which of the following implications is valid?
(a) det ( D ) = 0 implies rank ( D ) = 0 (b) det ( D ) = 1 implies rank ( D )  1
(c) rank ( D ) = 1 implies det ( D )  0 (d) rank ( D ) = n implies det ( D )  1 (NET JUNE 2011)
43. Let A and B be n  n real matrices such that AB = BA = 0 and A + B is invertible. Which of the following are
always true?
(a) Rank ( A) =Rank ( B ) (b) Rank ( A) +Rank ( B ) = n
(c) Nullity ( A) +Nullity ( B ) = n (d) A − B is invertible (NET Dec. 2012)

44. Let A, B be n  n real matrices. Which of the following statements is correct?

(a) rank ( A + B ) = rank ( A) + rank ( B )
(b) rank ( A + B ) = max rank ( A ) , rank ( B )
(c) rank ( A + B ) = min rank ( A) , rank ( B )
(d) rank ( A + B )  rank ( A) + rank ( B ) (NET JUNE 2012)

1
45. For a fixed positive integer n  3, let A be the n  n matrix defined as A = I − J , where I is the identity matrix
n
and J is the n  n matrix with all entries equal to 1. Which of the following statement not true?
(a) Ak = A for every positive integer k
(b) Trace ( A) = n − 1
(c) Rank ( A ) + Rank ( I − A ) = n.
(d) A is invertible. (NET DEC. 2013)
46. Let A be a 5  4 matrix with real entries such that Ax = 0 if and only if x = 0 where x is a 4 1 vector and 0 is a
null vector. Then the rank of A is.
(a)4 (b)5 (c)2 (d) 1 (NET DEC. 2013)

47. Consider a homogeneous system of linear equation Ax = 0 where A is an m  n real matrix n  m. Then which of
the following statements are always true?

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(a) Ax = 0 has a solution
(b) Ax = 0 has no nonzero solution
(c) Ax = 0 has a nonzero solution
(d) Dimension of the space of all solution is at least n − m (NET JUNE 2014)
48. Let A be a 3  4 and b be a 3  1 matrix with integer entries. Suppose that the system Ax = b has a complex
solution. Then
(a) Ax = b has an integer solution.
(b) Ax = b has a rational solution.
(c)The set of real solution to Ax = 0 has a basis consisting of rational solution.
(d)if b  0 then A has positive rank. (NET DEC. 2014)
49. Let A be a 4  7 real matrix and B be a 7  4 real matrix such that AB = I 4 , where I 4 is the 4  4 identity
matrix. Which of the following is/are always true?
(a)rank ( A ) = 4 (b) nullity ( B ) = 0
(c) BA = I 7 , where I 7 is the 7  7 identitly matrix (d)rank ( B ) = 7 (NET DEC. 2014)
50. Let A be 5  5 matrix and let B be obtained by changing one element of A. Let r and s be the ranks of A and
B respectively. Which of the following statement is / are correct?
(a) s  r + 1 (b) r − 1  s
(c) s = r − 1 (d) s  r (NET DEC. 2014)
51. Let A be an m  n matrix of rank n with real entries. Choose the correct statement.
(a) Ax = b has a solution for any b.
(b) Ax = 0 does not have a solution
(c)If Ax = b has a solution, then it is unique
(d) y ' A = 0 for some nonzero y, where y ' denotes the transpose of the vector y (NET JUNE 2015)

1 0 0 
 
52. Let S be the set of 3  3 real matrices A with A A =  0 0 0  . Then the set S contains.
T

0 0 0
 
(a)A nilpotent matrix (b)A matrix of rank one
(c)A matrix of rank two (d) A non zero skew-symmetirc matrix (NET JUNE 2015)
53. Let A be a real 3  4 matrix of rank 2. Then the rank of At A, where At denotes the transpose A, is:

(a)Exactly 2 (b)Exactly 3
(c)Exactly 4 (d)At most 2 but not necessarily 2 (NET DEC. 2015)
54. Let A be an m  n real matrix and b  m
with b  0.
(a)the set of all real solutions of Ax = b is a vector space.
(b)If u and v are two solutions of Ax = b then u + (1 −  ) v is also a solution of Ax = b for any  
(c)for any two solutions u and v of Ax = b the linear combination u + (1 −  ) v is also a solution of Ax = b only
when 0    1.
(d)If rank of A is n, then Ax = b has at most one solution. (NET DEC. 2015)

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Dr.Onkar Singh Bhati
Innovative Institute of Mathematics, S-10, Mahaveer Nagar, Near Jaipur Hospital, Jaipur
Contacts: 9461777799, 9928363694 Page 7
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55. Let A be a n  m matrix and b be a n  1 vector (with real entries). Suppose the equation Ax = b, x  m admits
a unique solution. Then we can conclude that.
(a) m  n (b) n  m
(c) n = m (d)n>m (NET JUNE 2016)
56. Let A, B be n  n real matrices such that det A  0 and det B  0. For 0  t  1 consider C ( t ) = tA + (1 − t ) B.
Then
(a) C ( t ) is invertible for each t   0,1 .
(b)There is a t0  ( 0,1) such that C ( t0 ) is not invertible.
(c) C ( t ) is not invertible for each t   0,1 .
(d) C ( t ) is invertible for only finitely many t   0,1 (NET JUNE 2016)

57. Let A be an n  m matrix with each entry equal to +1, −1 or 0 such that every column has exactly one +1 and
exactly one −1. we can conclude that .
(a) Rank A  n − 1 (b)Rank A = m
(c) n  m (d) n − 1  m (NET DEC. 2016)
58. Let j denote the matrix of order n  n with all entries 1 and let B be a ( 3n )  ( 3n ) matrix given by
0 0 j
 
B =  0 j 0  Then the rank of B is.
 j 0 0
 
(a) 2n (b) 3n − 1
(c)2 (d) 3 (NET DEC. 2016)
1 − 1 1  1 
   
59. Let A = 1 1 1 and b = 3 then the system AX = b over the real number has
   
 2 3     
(a)No solution whenever   7
(b)An infinite number of solutions whenever   2
(c)An infinite number of solutions if  = 2 and   7
(d)A unique solution if   2 (NET DEC. 2017)
60. Let A be an m  n matrix with rank r. if the linear system AX = b has a solution for each b  m
, then .
(a) m = r
m
(b) the column space of A is a proper subspace of
(c)the null space of A is a non – trivial subspace of n
whenever m = n
(d) m  n implies m = n (NET DEC. 2017)

61. The system of equations:-

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 Institute for JAM, NET, M.Sc. (Ent.), B.Sc., I &II Grade

1 x + 2  x + 3  xy + 0  y = 6
2  x + 1 x 2 + 3  xy + 1 y = 5
1 x − 1 x 2 + 0  xy + 1 y = 7
(a)has solution in rational numbers. (b ) has solution in real numbers.
(c) has solution in complex number (d) has no solution. (NET JUNE 2018)
62. If A is a ( 5  5 ) matrix and the dimension of the solution space of Ax = 0 is at least two then.

( )
(a)Rank A2  3 ( )
(b) Rank A2  3

(c) Rank ( A ) = 3
2
(d) Det ( A ) = 0
2
(NET JUNE 2018)

2 0 3 2 0 − 2  5  5 
0 1 0 − 1 3 4  1  1 
63. Let M =   ,b =   and b2 =   . Then which of the following are true? (NET DEC. 2018)
0 0 1 0 4 4  1 1  3 
     
1 1 1 0 1 1  4 3 
(a)both systems MX = b1 and MX = b2 are inconsistent
(b) both systems MX = b1 and MX = b2 are consistent
(c) the system MX = b1 − b2 is consistent
(d) the system MX = b1 − b2 is inconsistent
64. What is the rank of the following matrix?
1 1 1 1 1
 
1 2 2 2 2
1 2 3 3 3
 
1 2 3 4 4
1 2 3 4 5 

(a)2 (b)3
(c) 4 (d) 5 (NET JUNE 2019)

 2 0 5
 
65. Let A = 1 2 3  The system of linear equations AX = Y has a solution
 −1 5 1 
 
 x
 
(A) Only for Y =  0  , x 
0
 

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 Institute for JAM, NET, M.Sc. (Ent.), B.Sc., I &II Grade
0 
 
(B) Only for Y = y , y 
 
0 
 
0 
 
(C) Only for Y = y , y, z 
 
z 
 
(D) For all Y  3
(Net Dec.2019)
 x1   0 
   
66. Let T be a 3  3 matrix with entries in . consider the system of linear equations T  x2  =  0  . Which of the
 x  0
 3  
following are true?
(a) Rank of T  2  the system has a non – zero solution
(b) Rank of T  1  the system has infinitely many solution
(c) Rank of T  2  any two solution of the system are linearly dependent
 1 
 
(d) Rank of T  1  every   2   3
is a solution of the system . (Net Dec. 2019 2nd P)
 
 3
67. Consider the system of linear equations x + y + z = 3, x − y − z = 4, x − 5 y + kz = 6. Then the value of k for which
this system has an infinite number of solutions is
(a) k = −5 (b) k = 0
(c) k = 1 (d) k = 3 (GATE 2007)
k 1 2
 
68. If the nullity of the matrix 1 − 1 − 2 is 1, then the value of k is
 
1 1 4 
(a) −1 (b) 0
(c) 1 (d) 2 (GATE 2010)

Dr. Ashutosh Sharma

Dr.Onkar Singh Bhati
Innovative Institute of Mathematics, S-10, Mahaveer Nagar, Near Jaipur Hospital, Jaipur
Contacts: 9461777799, 9928363694 Page 10