Meaning A rank is a property of a matrix that tells the dimension of the vector space generated by its columns. This number is the same as the maximal number of linearly independent columns of the matrix. The rank is usually denoted by rank(A), where A is a matrix.
Example The matrix that has a rank 1 because any pair of columns is linearly dependent.
Etymology Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French renc, ranc, renke, rang with the meaning line (of soldiers), row (of people)
