 Solution

For every $v\in V$, $(\alpha +\beta )v=\alpha v+\beta v$, so $\mathrm{im}(\alpha +\beta )\subseteq \mathrm{im}\alpha +\mathrm{im}\beta$. Taking dimensions and applying the preceding dimension formula for a sum of subspaces givesThis proves the upper rank bounds for a sum of linear maps, without assuming the two images have zero intersection.