# If Two Matrices are Similar, then their Determinants are the Same

## Problem 390

Prove that if $A$ and $B$ are similar matrices, then their determinants are the same.

## Proof.

Suppose that $A$ and $B$ are similar. Then there exists a nonsingular matrix $S$ such that
$S^{-1}AS=B$ by definition.
Then we have
\begin{align*}
&\det(B)\\
&=\det(S^{-1}AS)\\
&=\det(S)^{-1}\det(A)\det(S) \\
& \text{(by multiplicative properties of determinants)}\\
&=\det(A) \\
&\text{(since determinants are just numbers, hence commutative).}
\end{align*}

Thus, we obtain $\det(A)=\det(B)$ as required.

## Related Question.

More generally, we can prove that if $A$ and $B$ are similar, then their characteristic polynomials are the same.
From this, we also can deduce that the determinants of $A$ and $B$ are the same as well as their traces are the same.

For a proof, see the post “Similar matrices have the same eigenvalues“.

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### 1 Response

1. 04/26/2017

[…] that if $A$ and $B$ are similar, then their determinants are the same. We compute begin{align*} det(A)=(1)(3)-(2)(0)=3 text{ and } det(B)=(3)(2)-(0)(1)=6. […]

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##### Trace, Determinant, and Eigenvalue (Harvard University Exam Problem)

(a) A $2 \times 2$ matrix $A$ satisfies $\tr(A^2)=5$ and $\tr(A)=3$. Find $\det(A)$. (b) A $2 \times 2$ matrix has...

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