Suppose that $K \in B\left(L_2(a, b)\right)$ has rank $N$, and let $\left\{\phi_1, \ldots, \phi_N\right\}$ be an orthonormal basis for $\mathscr{R}(K)$. By observing that for all $\phi \in L_2(a, b) K \phi=$ $\Sigma_{n=1}^N\left(K \phi, \phi_n\right) \phi_n$, or otherwise, show that there are functions $\psi_1, \ldots, \psi_N$ in $L_2(a, b)$ for which, for all $\phi \in L_2(a, b)$,
$$
(K \phi)(x)=\int_a^b\left(\sum_{n=1}^N \phi_n(x) \psi_n(t)\right) \phi(t) \mathrm{d} t
$$
almost everywhere in $(a, b)$. (Thus every operator of finite rank in $L_2(a, b)$ arises from a degenerate kernel.)