Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2017 / Prelims / Mathematics I / 4 / a / i / Solution

Choose an ordered basis $\mathcal{B}$ of $V$ and let $A=[T{]}_{\mathcal{B}}$. Define the characteristic polynomial byIf a different basis gives $B=P^{-1}AP$ for an invertible matrix $P$, multiplicativity of the determinant givesThus the definition is independent of the chosen basis. The alternate convention $\det (A-xI)$ differs by the constant factor $(-1{)}^{\dim V}$ and gives the same roots.