# Prove that $f^\ast\omega=\det f \cdot \omega$

Let $V$ be a vector space of dimension $n$ and $f: V\to V$ a linear operator. I need to show that $f^\ast:\Lambda^n(V)\to \Lambda^n(V)$ is multiplication by $\det f$.

My try:

Since $\dim \Lambda^n(V)$ is $1-$dimensional and $f^\ast$ is linear, $f^\ast$ must be multiplication by a constant.

Let $\omega\in \Lambda^n(V)$ and let $A$ be the matrix of $f$ with respect to a basis $e_1,\dots,e_n$. Then $$f^\ast\omega(v_1,\dots,v_n)=\omega(f(v_1),\dots,f(v_n))=\det A \cdot \omega (e_1,\dots,e_n)$$ The first equality is definition and the second is

4-6 $\ \$ Theorem. $\$ $\textit{Let }v_1,\ldots,v_n\textit{ be a basis for }V\textit{, and let }\omega\in\Lambda^n(V)\textit{. If }w_i=\sum\limits_{j=1}^n a_{ij}v_j\textit{ are }n\textit{ vectors in }V\textit{, then}$ $$\omega(w_1,\ldots,w_n)=\det(a_{ij})\cdot\omega(v_1,\ldots,v_n).$$

But I think this isn't what I what I need to obtain, namely $$f^\ast\omega(v_1,\dots,v_n)=\det A \cdot \omega (v_1,\dots,v_n)$$

Is there any mistake in my computations, or do I need some additional step?

• What is $\det f$ if it's not $\det A$? Apr 2 '18 at 18:03
• @MatthewLeingang I believe $\det f$ is $\det A$. I mean the problem is that the RHS of the equality I obtain contains $e_i$s, not $v_i$s. Apr 2 '18 at 18:12
• Ah, I missed that part originally. But you also need to consider the determinant of the matrix that expresses the $v_i$'s in terms of the $e_i$'s. Apr 2 '18 at 18:18

The second equality should be $$\omega(f(v_1),\dots,f(v_n))=\det A \cdot \omega (v_1,\dots,v_n).$$ Let $w_i = f(v_i)$, we have $$w_i = f(v_i) = f(\sum_jv_{ji} e_j) = \sum_jv_{ji}f(e_j) = \sum_k\big(\sum_j A_{kj} v_{ji}\big)e_k = \sum_kw_{ki}e_k,$$ Therefore by applying the theorem twice,
• Thanks. I haven't understood the entire answer yet, but what confuses me in your second display is that your expression of $v_i$ in terms of basis is non-standard (the coordinates form the rows, not columns as usual). (And the same with the expansion of $w_i$.) Did you do this intentionally, or are these typos? Apr 2 '18 at 18:36