[pulkit]

I am building a software package that converts 2-d drawings into 3-d objects.
In the process, I am in the need of knowing an algorithm to determine the rank of a matrix. I am dealing with a 4x3 matrix and need a method (that can be easily coded into a computer programme) which would mechanically compute the rank of such a matrix. I am unable to develop any such method so can anyone help me ?

I must add that determination of rank using the definition of rank seems a bit too inefficient to code.

[Aeschylus]

Use Gaussian elimination to determine the rank.

[pulkit]

Can gaussian elimination also be used to solve a set of simultaneous linear equations ?

[Aeschylus]

pulkit said:

Can gaussian elimination also be used to solve a set of simultaneous linear equations ?

indeed, infact it's usually introduced as a method of solving s. linear equations.

[Treadstone]

to save time you could also set up some conditional statements to see if the matrix is already in row reduced echelon form, then just count pivots...that way you dont run guassian elim every time.

nathan