For an m × n matrix of rank r, the rank alone determines whether Ax = b has zero, one, or infinitely many solutions, with four distinct cases.
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Full column rank and full row rank
State that leaves no free variables and permits or solutions, while leaves no zero rows and makes solvable for every .
The square invertible case
Record that the reduced row echelon form is , the null space holds only the zero vector, and there is exactly one solution for every .
The rank-deficient case and
Sketch the reduced form with an identity block, free columns and zero rows, and record that the solution count is either zero or infinite with nothing between.
The counts and
Write as the number of free variables and as the number of solvability conditions on , then assemble the four rank cases into one summary table.