Show that the determinant of $A$ is equal to the product of its eigenvalues

Show that the determinant of a matrix $A$ is equal to the product of its eigenvalues $\lambda_i$.

So I'm having a tough time figuring this one out. I know that I have to work with the characteristic polynomial of the matrix $\det(A-\lambda I)$. But, when considering an $n \times n$ matrix, I do not know how to work out the proof. Should I just use the determinant formula for any $n \times n$ matrix? I'm guessing not, because that is quite complicated. Any insights would be great.

Suppose that $\lambda_1, \ldots, \lambda_n$ are the eigenvalues of $A$. Then the $\lambda$s are also the roots of the characteristic polynomial, i.e.

$$\begin{array}{rcl} \det (A-\lambda I)=p(\lambda)&=&(-1)^n (\lambda - \lambda_1 )(\lambda - \lambda_2)\cdots (\lambda - \lambda_n) \\ &=&(-1) (\lambda - \lambda_1 )(-1)(\lambda - \lambda_2)\cdots (-1)(\lambda - \lambda_n) \\ &=&(\lambda_1 - \lambda )(\lambda_2 - \lambda)\cdots (\lambda_n - \lambda) \end{array}$$

The first equality follows from the factorization of a polynomial given its roots; the leading (highest degree) coefficient $(-1)^n$ can be obtained by expanding the determinant along the diagonal.

Now, by setting $\lambda$ to zero (simply because it is a variable) we get on the left side $\det(A)$, and on the right side $\lambda_1 \lambda_2\cdots\lambda_n$, that is, we indeed obtain the desired result

$$ \det(A) = \lambda_1 \lambda_2\cdots\lambda_n$$

So the determinant of the matrix is equal to the product of its eigenvalues.

I am a beginning Linear Algebra learner and this is just my humble opinion.

One idea presented above is that

Suppose that $\lambda_1,\ldots \lambda_2$ are eigenvalues of $A$.

Then the $\lambda$s are also the roots of the characteristic polynomial, i.e.

$$\det(A−\lambda I)=(\lambda_1-\lambda)(\lambda_2−\lambda)\cdots(\lambda_n−\lambda)$$.

Now, by setting $\lambda$ to zero (simply because it is a variable) we get on the left side $\det(A)$, and on the right side $\lambda_1\lambda_2\ldots \lambda_n$, that is, we indeed obtain the desired result

$$\det(A)=\lambda_1\lambda_2\ldots \lambda_n$$.

I dont think that this works generally but only for the case when $\det(A) = 0$.

Because, when we write down the characteristic equation, we use the relation $\det(A - \lambda I) = 0$ Following the same logic, the only case where $\det(A - \lambda I) = \det(A) = 0$ is that $\lambda = 0$. The relationship $\det(A - \lambda I) = 0$ must be obeyed even for the special case $\lambda = 0$, which implies, $\det(A) = 0$

UPDATED POST

Here i propose a way to prove the theorem for a 2 by 2 case. Let $A$ be a 2 by 2 matrix.

$$ A = \begin{pmatrix} a_{11} & a_{12}\\ a_{21} & a_{22}\\\end{pmatrix}$$

The idea is to use a certain property of determinants,

$$ \begin{vmatrix} a_{11} + b_{11} & a_{12} \\ a_{21} + b_{21} & a_{22}\\\end{vmatrix} = \begin{vmatrix} a_{11} & a_{12}\\ a_{21} & a_{22}\\\end{vmatrix} + \begin{vmatrix} b_{11} & a_{12}\\b_{21} & a_{22}\\\end{vmatrix}$$

Let $ \lambda_1$ and $\lambda_2$ be the 2 eigenvalues of the matrix $A$. (The eigenvalues can be distinct, or repeated, real or complex it doesn't matter.)

The two eigenvalues $\lambda_1$ and $\lambda_2$ must satisfy the following condition :

$$\det (A -I\lambda) = 0 $$ Where $\lambda$ is the eigenvalue of $A$.

Therefore, $$\begin{vmatrix} a_{11} - \lambda & a_{12} \\ a_{21} & a_{22} - \lambda\\\end{vmatrix} = 0 $$

Therefore, using the property of determinants provided above, I will try to decompose the determinant into parts.

$$\begin{vmatrix} a_{11} - \lambda & a_{12} \\ a_{21} & a_{22} - \lambda\\\end{vmatrix} = \begin{vmatrix} a_{11} & a_{12} \\ a_{21} & a_{22} - \lambda\\\end{vmatrix} - \begin{vmatrix} \lambda & 0 \\ a_{21} & a_{22} - \lambda\\\end{vmatrix}= \begin{vmatrix} a_{11} & a_{12} \\ a_{21} & a_{22}\\\end{vmatrix} - \begin{vmatrix} a_{11} & a_{12} \\ 0 & \lambda \\\end{vmatrix}-\begin{vmatrix} \lambda & 0 \\ a_{21} & a_{22} - \lambda\\\end{vmatrix}$$

The final determinant can be further reduced.

$$ \begin{vmatrix} \lambda & 0 \\ a_{21} & a_{22} - \lambda\\\end{vmatrix} = \begin{vmatrix} \lambda & 0 \\ a_{21} & a_{22} \\\end{vmatrix} - \begin{vmatrix} \lambda & 0\\ 0 & \lambda\\\end{vmatrix} $$

Substituting the final determinant, we will have

$$ \begin{vmatrix} a_{11} - \lambda & a_{12} \\ a_{21} & a_{22} - \lambda\\\end{vmatrix} = \begin{vmatrix} a_{11} & a_{12} \\ a_{21} & a_{22}\\\end{vmatrix} - \begin{vmatrix} a_{11} & a_{12} \\ 0 & \lambda \\\end{vmatrix} - \begin{vmatrix} \lambda & 0 \\ a_{21} & a_{22} \\\end{vmatrix} + \begin{vmatrix} \lambda & 0\\ 0 & \lambda\\\end{vmatrix} = 0 $$

In a polynomial $$ a_{n}\lambda^n + a_{n-1}\lambda^{n-1} ........a_{1}\lambda + a_{0}\lambda^0 = 0$$ We have the product of root being the coefficient of the term with the 0th power, $a_{0}$.

From the decomposed determinant, the only term which doesn't involve $\lambda$ would be the first term

$$ \begin{vmatrix} a_{11} & a_{12} \\ a_{21} & a_{22} \\\end{vmatrix} = \det (A) $$

Therefore, the product of roots aka product of eigenvalues of $A$ is equivalent to the determinant of $A$.

I am having difficulties to generalize this idea of proof to the $n$ by $$ case though, as it is complex and time consuming for me.