Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2003 / ib / Paper 1 / 14E / c / Solution

Apply the preceding rank bounds for a sum of linear maps to $\alpha =(\alpha +\beta )+(-\beta )$. Since multiplying a linear map by $-1$ does not change its image, $\mathrm{rank}\alpha \le \mathrm{rank}(\alpha +\beta )+\mathrm{rank}\beta$. Thus $\mathrm{rank}(\alpha +\beta )\ge \mathrm{rank}\alpha -\mathrm{rank}\beta$. Interchanging the maps gives the other difference, proving