Determinant of Linear Operator is Well Defined

Theorem
Let $V$ be a nontrivial finite dimensional vector space over a field $K$.

Let $A: V \to V$ be a linear operator of $V$.

Then the determinant $\det A$ of $A$ is well defined, that is, does not depend on the choice of a basis of $V$.

Proof
Let $A_\BB$ and $A_\CC$ be the matrices of $A$ relative to $\BB$ and $\CC$ respectively.

Let $\det$ also denote the determinant of a matrix.

We are required to show that $\det A_\BB = \det A_\CC$.

Let $P$ be the change of basis matrix from $\BB$ to $\CC$.

By Change of Coordinate Vectors Under Linear Mapping and since $A_\BB$ and $A_\CC$ represent the same linear operator with respect to different bases, the following diagram commutes:


 * Determinant Independent of Basis.png

where $u \in V$, and $\sqbrk u_\BB$ indicates the coordinate vector of $u$ with repect to $\BB$, and similarly for $\sqbrk u_\CC$.

That is, $P A_\BB = A_\CC P$.

From Change of Basis is Invertible:
 * $A_\BB = P^{-1} A_\CC P$

So:

Hence the result.