An $ntimes n$ matrix $M$ is called a textit{fooling-set matrix of size $n$} if its diagonal entries are nonzero and $M_{k,ell} M_{ell,k} = 0$ for every $k e ell$. Dietzfelbinger, Hromkovi{v{c}}, and Schnitger (1996) showed that $n le (mbox{rk} M)^2$, regardless of over which field the rank is computed, and asked whether the exponent on $mbox{rk} M$ can be improved. We settle this question. In characteristic zero, we construct an infinite family of rational fooling-set matrices with size $n = binom{mbox{rk} M+1}{2}$. In nonzero characteristic, we construct an infinite family of matrices with $n= (1+o(1))(mbox{rk} M)^2$.
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