Problem

Source: Romanian National Olympiad 2016, grade xi, p.2

Tags: linear algebra, rank



Consider a natural number, $ n\ge 2, $ and three $ n\times n $ complex matrices $ A,B,C $ such that $ A $ is invertible, $ B $ is formed by replacing the first line of $ A $ with zeroes, and $ C $ is formed by putting the last $ n-1 $ lines of $ A $ above a line of zeroes. Prove that: a) $ \text{rank} \left( A^{-1} B \right) = \text{rank} \left( \left( A^{-1} B\right)^2 \right) =\cdots =\text{rank} \left( \left( A^{-1} B\right)^n \right) $ b) $ \text{rank} \left( A^{-1} C \right) > \text{rank} \left( \left( A^{-1} C\right)^2 \right) >\cdots >\text{rank} \left( \left( A^{-1} C\right)^n \right) $