Determinant of a sum of matrices












9












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I would like to know if the following formula is well known and get some references for it.



I don't know yet how to prove it (and I am working on it), but I am quite sure of its validity, after having performed a few symbolic computations with Maple.



Given $n$ square matrices $A_1,ldots,A_n$ of size $m<n$ :




$$sum_{p=1}^n(-1)^psum_{1leqslant i_1<cdots<i_pleqslant n}det(A_{i_1}+cdots+A_{i_p})=0$$




For example, if $A,B,C$ are three $2times2$ matrices, then :



$$det(A+B+C)-left[det(A+B)+det(A+C)+det(B+C)right]+det(A)+det(B)+det(C)=0$$










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9












$begingroup$


I would like to know if the following formula is well known and get some references for it.



I don't know yet how to prove it (and I am working on it), but I am quite sure of its validity, after having performed a few symbolic computations with Maple.



Given $n$ square matrices $A_1,ldots,A_n$ of size $m<n$ :




$$sum_{p=1}^n(-1)^psum_{1leqslant i_1<cdots<i_pleqslant n}det(A_{i_1}+cdots+A_{i_p})=0$$




For example, if $A,B,C$ are three $2times2$ matrices, then :



$$det(A+B+C)-left[det(A+B)+det(A+C)+det(B+C)right]+det(A)+det(B)+det(C)=0$$










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  • $begingroup$
    This is directly related to this MSE question
    $endgroup$
    – Somos
    Nov 14 '17 at 19:31












  • $begingroup$
    @Somos: Thank you ! I will jump to it right now :)
    $endgroup$
    – Adren
    Nov 14 '17 at 19:47














9












9








9


6



$begingroup$


I would like to know if the following formula is well known and get some references for it.



I don't know yet how to prove it (and I am working on it), but I am quite sure of its validity, after having performed a few symbolic computations with Maple.



Given $n$ square matrices $A_1,ldots,A_n$ of size $m<n$ :




$$sum_{p=1}^n(-1)^psum_{1leqslant i_1<cdots<i_pleqslant n}det(A_{i_1}+cdots+A_{i_p})=0$$




For example, if $A,B,C$ are three $2times2$ matrices, then :



$$det(A+B+C)-left[det(A+B)+det(A+C)+det(B+C)right]+det(A)+det(B)+det(C)=0$$










share|cite|improve this question











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I would like to know if the following formula is well known and get some references for it.



I don't know yet how to prove it (and I am working on it), but I am quite sure of its validity, after having performed a few symbolic computations with Maple.



Given $n$ square matrices $A_1,ldots,A_n$ of size $m<n$ :




$$sum_{p=1}^n(-1)^psum_{1leqslant i_1<cdots<i_pleqslant n}det(A_{i_1}+cdots+A_{i_p})=0$$




For example, if $A,B,C$ are three $2times2$ matrices, then :



$$det(A+B+C)-left[det(A+B)+det(A+C)+det(B+C)right]+det(A)+det(B)+det(C)=0$$







matrices determinant






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edited Aug 18 '18 at 19:16









Rodrigo de Azevedo

13.1k41962




13.1k41962










asked Nov 14 '17 at 19:27









AdrenAdren

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5,413519












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    This is directly related to this MSE question
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    – Somos
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    @Somos: Thank you ! I will jump to it right now :)
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    – Adren
    Nov 14 '17 at 19:47


















  • $begingroup$
    This is directly related to this MSE question
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    Nov 14 '17 at 19:47
















$begingroup$
This is directly related to this MSE question
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$begingroup$
This is directly related to this MSE question
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– Somos
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3 Answers
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Let me outline two other proofs. Let me first rename your $m$ and $n$ as $n$
and $r$, since I find it confusing when $n$ is not the size of the square
matrices involved. So you are claiming the following:




Theorem 1. Let $mathbb{K}$ be a commutative ring. Let $ninmathbb{N}$
and $rinmathbb{N}$ be such that $n<r$. Let $A_{1},A_{2},ldots,A_{r}$ be
$ntimes n$-matrices over $mathbb{K}$. Then,
begin{equation}
sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
end{equation}




Notice that I've snuck in one more little change into your formula: I've added
the addend for $I=varnothing$. This addend usually doesn't contribute much,
because $detleft( sumlimits_{iinvarnothing}A_{i}right) =detleft(
0_{ntimes n}right) $
is usually $0$... unless $n=0$, in which case it
contributes $detleft( 0_{0times0}right) =1$ (keep in mind that there is
only one $0times0$-matrix and its determinant is $1$), and the whole equality
fails if this addend is missing.



A first proof of Theorem 1 appears in (the solution to) Exercise 6.53 in my
Notes on the combinatorial fundamentals of algebra, version of 10 January
2019. (To obtain
Theorem 1 from this exercise, set $G=left{ 1,2,ldots,rright} $.) The
main idea of this proof is that Theorem 1 holds not only for determinants, but
also for each of the $n!$ products that make up the determinant (assuming that
you define the determinant of an $ntimes n$-matrix as a sum over the $n!$
permutations); this is proven by interchanging summation signs and exploiting
discrete "destructive interference" (i.e., the fact that if $G$ is a finite
set and $R$ is a subset of $G$, then $sumlimits_{substack{Isubseteq
G;\Rsubseteq I}}left( -1right) ^{leftvert Irightvert }=
begin{cases}
1, & text{if }R=G;\
0, & text{if }Rneq G
end{cases}
$
).



Let me now sketch a second proof of Theorem 1, which shows that it isn't
really about determinants. It is about finite differences, in a slightly more
general context than they are usually studied.



Let $M$ be any $mathbb{K}$-module. The dual $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee
}=operatorname{Hom}_{mathbb{K}}left( M,mathbb{K}right) $
of
$M$ consists of all $mathbb{K}$-linear maps $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. Thus,
$M^{vee}$ is a $mathbb{K}$-submodule of the $mathbb{K}$-module
$mathbb{K}^{M}$ of all maps $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. The $mathbb{K}
$
-module $mathbb{K}^{M}$ becomes a commutative $mathbb{K}$-algebra (we just
define multiplication to be pointwise, i.e., the product $fg$ of two maps
$f,g:Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$ sends each $min M$ to $fleft( mright)
gleft( mright) inmathbb{K}$
).



For any $dinmathbb{N}$, we let $M^{vee d}$ be the $mathbb{K}$-linear span
of all elements of $mathbb{K}^{M}$ of the form $f_{1}f_{2}cdots f_{d}$ for
$f_{1},f_{2},ldots,f_{d}in M^{vee}$. (For $d=0$, the only such element is
the empty product $1$, so $M^{vee0}$ consists of the constant maps
$Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. Notice also that $M^{vee1}=M^{vee}$.) The elements
of $M^{vee d}$ are called homogeneous polynomial functions of degree $d$ on
$M$
. The underlying idea is that if $M$ is a free $mathbb{K}$-module with a
given basis, then the elements of $M^{vee d}$ are the maps $Mrightarrow
mathbb{K}$
that can be expressed as polynomials of the coordinate functions
with respect to this basis; but the $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee d}$ makes
perfect sense whether or not $M$ is free.



We also set $M^{vee d}=0$ (the zero $mathbb{K}$-submodule of $mathbb{K}
^{M}$
) for $d<0$.



For each $d in mathbb{Z}$, we define a $mathbb{K}$-submodule
$M^{vee leq d}$ of $mathbb{K}^M$ by
begin{equation}
M^{vee leq d} = sumlimits_{i leq d} M^{vee i} .
end{equation}

The elements of $M^{vee leq d}$ are called (inhomogeneous) polynomial
functions of degree $leq d$ on $M$
.
The submodules $M^{vee leq d}$ satisfy
begin{equation}
M^{vee leq d} M^{vee leq e} subseteq M^{vee leq left(d+eright)}
end{equation}

for any integers $d$ and $e$.



For any $xin M$, we define the $mathbb{K}$-linear map $S_{x}:mathbb{K}
^{M}rightarrowmathbb{K}^{M}$
by setting
begin{equation}
left( S_{x}fright) left( mright) =fleft( m+xright) qquadtext{for
each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
end{equation}

This map $S_{x}$ is called a shift operator. It is an endomorphism of the
$mathbb{K}$-algebra $mathbb{K}^{M}$ and preserves all the $mathbb{K}
$
-submodules $M^{vee leq d}$ (for all $dinmathbb{Z}$).



Moreover, for any $xin M$, we define the $mathbb{K}$-linear map $Delta
_{x}:mathbb{K}^{M}rightarrowmathbb{K}^{M}$
by $Delta_{x}
=operatorname*{id}-S_{x}$
. Hence,
begin{equation}
left( Delta_{x}fright) left( mright) =fleft( mright) -fleft(
m+xright) qquadtext{for each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
end{equation}

This map $Delta_{x}$ is called a difference operator. The following crucial
fact shows that it "decrements the degree" of a polynomial function, similarly
to how differentiation decrements the degree of a polynomial:




Lemma 2. Let $x in M$. Then,
$Delta_{x}M^{vee d}subseteq M^{vee leq left( d-1right)}$
for each $dinmathbb{Z}$.




[Let me sketch a proof of Lemma 2:



Lemma 2 clearly holds for $d < 0$ (since $M^{vee d} = 0$ if $d < 0$).
Hence, it remains to prove Lemma 2 for $d geq 0$.
We shall prove this by induction on $d$.
The induction base is the case $d = 0$, which is easy to
check (indeed, each $f in M^{vee 0}$ is a constant map, and thus
satisfies $Delta_x f = 0$; therefore,
$Delta_{x}M^{vee 0} = 0 subseteq M^{vee leq left( 0-1right) }$).



For the induction step, we fix some nonnegative integer $e$, and assume
that Lemma 2 holds for $d = e$. We must then show that Lemma 2
holds for $d = e+1$.



We have assumed that Lemma 2 holds for $d = e$.
In other words, we have
$Delta_{x}M^{vee e}subseteq M^{vee leq left( e-1right)}$.



Our goal is to show that Lemma 2
holds for $d = e+1$. In other words, our goal is to show
that
$Delta_{x}M^{vee left(e+1right)}subseteq M^{vee leq e}$.



But the $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee left(e+1right)}$ is
spanned by maps of the form $fg$ with $fin M^{vee e}$ and
$gin M^{vee}$ (since it is spanned by products of the
form $f_1 f_2 cdots f_{e+1}$ with
$f_1, f_2, ldots, f_{e+1} in M^{vee}$, but each such
product can be rewritten in the form $fg$
with $f = f_1 f_2 cdots f_e in M^{vee e}$ and
$g = f_{e+1} in M^{vee}$).
Hence, it suffices to show that
$Delta_x left( fg right) in M^{vee leq e}$
for each $fin M^{vee e}$ and
$gin M^{vee}$.



Let us first notice that if $g in M^{vee}$ is arbitrary,
then $Delta_x g$ is the constant map whose value is
$- gleft(xright)$
(because each $m in M$ satisfies
begin{equation}
left(Delta_x gright) left(mright)
= gleft(mright) - underbrace{gleft(m+xright)}_{substack{=gleft(mright) + gleft(xright)\ text{(since }g text{ is } mathbb{K}text{-linear)}}}
= gleft(mright) - left(gleft(mright) + gleft(xright)right)
= - gleft(xright)
end{equation}

), and thus belongs to $M^{vee 0}$.
In other words, $Delta_x M^{vee} subseteq M^{vee 0}$.



For each $f in mathbb{K}^M$ and $g in mathbb{K}^M$,
we have
begin{align*}
Delta_{x}left( fgright) & =left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right)
left( fgright) qquadleft( text{since }Delta_{x}=operatorname*{id}
-S_{x}right) \
& =fg-underbrace{S_{x}left( fgright) }_{substack{=left( S_{x}fright)
left( S_{x}gright) \text{(since }S_{x}text{ is an endomorphism}
\text{of the }mathbb{K}text{-algebra }mathbb{K}^{M}text{)}}}\
& =fg-left( S_{x}fright) left( S_{x}gright) =underbrace{left(
f-S_{x}fright) }_{=left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) f}g+left(
S_{x}fright) underbrace{left( x-S_{x}gright) }_{=left(
operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) g}\
& =left( underbrace{left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) }_{=Delta
_{x}}fright) g+left( S_{x}fright) left( underbrace{left(
operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) }_{=Delta_{x}}gright) \
& =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+left(
underbrace{S_{x}}_{substack{=operatorname*{id}-Delta_{x}\
text{(since }Delta
_{x}=operatorname*{id}-S_{x}text{)}}}fright) left( Delta_{x}gright)
\
& =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+underbrace{left( left(
operatorname*{id}-Delta_{x}right) fright) }_{=f-Delta_{x}f}left(
Delta_{x}gright) \
& =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+left( f-Delta_{x}fright) left(
Delta_{x}gright) \
& =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+fleft( Delta_{x}gright) -left(
Delta_{x}fright) left( Delta_{x}gright) .
end{align*}

Hence, for each $fin M^{vee e}$ and $gin M^{vee}$, we have
begin{align*}
Delta_{x}left( fgright) & =left( Delta_{x}underbrace{f}_{in
M^{vee e}}right) underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}+underbrace{f}_{in M^{vee
e}}left( Delta_{x}underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}right) -left( Delta
_{x}underbrace{f}_{in M^{vee e}}right)
left( Delta_{x}underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}right) \
& inunderbrace{left( Delta_{x}M^{vee e}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee
leqleft( e-1right) }}M^{vee}+M^{vee e}underbrace{left( Delta
_{x}M^{vee}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee0}}-underbrace{left( Delta
_{x}M^{vee e}right) }_{subseteq M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }
}underbrace{left( Delta_{x}M^{vee}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee0}}\
& subsetequnderbrace{M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }M^{vee}}_{subseteq
M^{veeleq e}}+underbrace{M^{vee e}M^{vee0}}_{subseteq M^{vee
e}subseteq M^{veeleq e}}-underbrace{M^{veeleqleft( e-1right)
}M^{vee0}}_{subseteq M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }subseteq M^{veeleq
e}}\
& subseteq M^{veeleq e}+M^{veeleq e}-M^{veeleq e}subseteq M^{veeleq
e}.
end{align*}

This proves that $Delta_{x}left( M^{veeleft( e+1right) }right)
subseteq M^{veeleq e}$
, as we intended to prove.



Thus, the induction step is complete, and Lemma 2 is proven.]



The following fact follows by induction using Lemma 2:




Corollary 3. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
elements of $M$. Then,
begin{equation}
Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}M^{vee d}subseteq
M^{vee leq left( d-rright) }
end{equation}

for each $dinmathbb{Z}$.




And as a consequence of this, we obtain the following:




Corollary 4. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
elements of $M$. Then,
begin{equation}
Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}M^{vee d}=0
end{equation}

for each $dinmathbb{Z}$ satisfying $d<r$.




[In fact, Corollary 4 follows immediately from Corollary 3, because $d<r$
implies $M^{vee leq left( d-rright) }=0$.]



To make use of Corollary 4, we want a more-or-less explicit expression for how
$Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}$ acts on maps in
$mathbb{K}^{M}$. This is the following fact:




Proposition 5. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
elements of $M$. Then,
begin{equation}
left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}fright) left(
mright) =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right)
qquadtext{for each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
end{equation}




[Proposition 5 can be proven by induction over $r$, where the induction step
involves splitting the sum on the right hand side into the part with the $I$
that contain $r$ and the part with the $I$ that don't. But there is also a
slicker argument, which needs some preparation. The maps $S_{x}in
operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}}left( mathbb{K}^{M}right) $
for
different elements $xin M$ commute; better yet, they satisfy the
multiplication rule $S_{x}S_{y}=S_{x+y}$ (as can be checked immediately).
Hence, by induction over $leftvert Irightvert $, we conclude that if $I$
is any finite set, and if $x_{i}$ is an element of $M$ for each $iin I$, then
begin{equation}
prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}=S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}
qquad text{in the ring } operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}} left(mathbb{K}^Mright) .
end{equation}

I shall refer to this fact as the S-multiplication rule.



Now, let us prove Proposition 5. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
elements of $M$. Recall the well-known formula
begin{equation}
prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( 1-a_{i}right)
=sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
^{leftvert Irightvert }prodlimits_{iin I}a_{i},
end{equation}

which holds whenever $a_{1},a_{2},ldots,a_{r}$ are commuting elements of some
ring. Applying this formula to $a_{i}=S_{x_{i}}$, we obtain
begin{equation}
prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( operatorname*{id}
-S_{x_{i}}right) =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left(
-1right) ^{leftvert Irightvert }prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}
end{equation}

(since $S_{x_{1}},S_{x_{2}},ldots,S_{x_{r}}$ are commuting elements of the
ring $operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}}left( mathbb{K}^{M}right)
$
). Thus,
begin{align*}
Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}} & =prodlimits_{iinleft{
1,2,ldots,rright} }underbrace{Delta_{x_{i}}}
_{substack{=operatorname*{id}-S_{x_{i}}\text{(by the definition of }
Delta_{x_{i}}text{)}}}=prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left(
operatorname*{id}-S_{x_{i}}right) \
& =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
^{leftvert Irightvert }underbrace{prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}}
_{substack{=S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}\text{(by the S-multiplication rule)}
}}=sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
^{leftvert Irightvert }S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}.
end{align*}

Hence, for each $min M$ and $finmathbb{K}^{M}$, we obtain
begin{align*}
& left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}fright) left(
mright) \
& =left( sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
^{leftvert Irightvert }S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}fright) left( mright)
\
& =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
^{leftvert Irightvert }underbrace{left( S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}fright)
left( mright) }_{substack{=fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right)
\text{(by the definition of the shift operators)}}}\
& =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) .
end{align*}

Thus, Proposition 5 is proven.]



We can now combine Corollary 4 with Proposition 5 and obtain the following:




Corollary 6. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$ elements of $M$. Let
$dinmathbb{Z}$ be such that $d<r$. Let $fin M^{vee d}$ and $min M$. Then,
begin{equation}
sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) =0.
end{equation}




[Indeed, Corollary 6 follows from the computation
begin{align*}
& sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) \
& =underbrace{left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}
}fright) }_{substack{=0\text{(by Corollary 4, since } f in M^{vee d} text{)}}}left( mright)
qquadleft( text{by Proposition 5}right) \
& =0.
end{align*}

]



Finally, let us prove Theorem 1. The matrix ring $mathbb{K}^{ntimes n}$ is a
$mathbb{K}$-module. Let $M$ be this $mathbb{K}$-module $mathbb{K}^{ntimes
n}$
. For each $i,jinleft{ 1,2,ldots,nright} $, we let $x_{i,j}$ be the
map $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$ that sends each matrix $M$ to its $left(
i,jright) $
-th entry; this map $x_{i,j}$ is $mathbb{K}$-linear and thus
belongs to $M^{vee}$.



It is easy to see that the map $det:mathbb{K}^{ntimes n}rightarrow
mathbb{K}$
(sending each $ntimes n$-matrix to its determinant) is a
homogeneous polynomial function of degree $n$ on $M$; indeed, it can be
represented in the commutative $mathbb{K}$-algebra $mathbb{K}^M$ as
begin{equation}
det=sumlimits_{sigmain S_{n}}left( -1right) ^{sigma}x_{1,sigmaleft(
1right) }x_{2,sigmaleft( 2right) }cdots x_{n,sigmaleft( nright)
},
end{equation}

where $S_{n}$ is the $n$-th symmetric group, and where $left( -1right)
^{sigma}$
denotes the sign of a permutation $sigma$. In other words,
$detin M^{vee n}$. Hence, Corollary 6 (applied to $x_{i}=A_{i}$, $d=n$,
$f=det$ and $m=0$) yields
begin{equation}
sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( 0+sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
end{equation}

In other words,
begin{equation}
sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
end{equation}

This proves Theorem 1. $blacksquare$






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$endgroup$





















    3












    $begingroup$

    Given integers $n > m > 0$, let $[n]$ be a short hand for the set ${1,ldots,n}$.



    For any $t in mathbb{R}$ and $x_1, ldots, x_n in mathbb{C}$, we have the identity



    $$prod_{k=1}^n (1 - e^{tx_k}) = sum_{P subset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} e^{tsum_{kin P} x_k}$$



    Treat both sides as function of $t$. Expand against $t$, one notice on LHS, coefficients in front of $t^k$ vanishes whenever $k < n$.
    By comparing coefficients of $t^m$, we obtain:



    $$ 0 = sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} left(sum_{kin P} x_kright)^mtag{*1}$$



    Notice RHS is a polynomial function in $x_1,ldots,x_n$ with integer coefficients. Since it evaluates to $0$ for all $(x_1,ldots,x_n) in mathbb{C}^n$, it is valid as a polynomial identity in $n$ indeterminates with integer coefficients. As a corollary, it is valid as an algebraic identity when $x_1, x_2, ldots, x_n$ are elements taken from any commutative algebra.



    Let $V$ be a vector space over $mathbb{C}$ spanned by
    elements $eta_1, ldots, eta_m$ and $bar{eta}_1,ldots,bar{eta}_m$.



    Let $Lambda^{e}(V) = bigoplus_{k=0}^n Lambda^{2k}(V)$ be the 'even' portion
    of its exterior algebra. $Lambda^{e}(V)$ itself is a commutative algebra.



    For any $m times m$ matrix $A$, let $tilde{A} in Lambda^e(V)$ be the element defined by:



    $$A = (a_{ij}) quadlongrightarrowquad tilde{A} = sum_{i=1}^msum_{j=1}^m a_{ij}bar{eta}_i wedge eta_j$$



    Notice the $m$-fold power of $tilde{A}$ satisfies an interesting identity:



    $$tilde{A}^m = underbrace{tilde{A} wedge cdots wedge tilde{A}}_{m text{ times}} = det(A) omega
    quadtext{ where }quad
    omega = m!, bar{eta}_1 wedge eta_1 wedge cdots wedge bar{eta}_m wedge eta_mtag{*2}$$



    Given any $n$-tuple of matrices $A_1, ldots, A_n in M_{mtimes m}(mathbb{C})$, if we substitute $x_k$ in $(*1)$ by $tilde{A}_k$ and apply $(*2)$, we find



    $$
    sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} left(sum_{kin P} tilde{A}_kright)^m
    = sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} detleft(sum_{kin P} A_kright)omega
    = 0
    $$
    Extracting the coefficient in front of $omega$, the desired identity follows:
    $$sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} detleft(sum_{kin P} A_kright) = 0$$






    share|cite|improve this answer











    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      A very beautiful result and very beautiful proof!
      $endgroup$
      – Jair Taylor
      Nov 15 '17 at 18:22



















    0












    $begingroup$

    HINT:



    The determinant of an $ntimes n$ matrix is a form of degree $n$. Forms come from multilinear forms.



    Consider $M$ an abelian group. For $a in M$, denote by $a^{[n]}$ the element $aotimes a otimes ldots otimes ain M^{otimes n}$. Let now $a_iin M$, $i in I$, finitely many elements in $M$. Let's try to find
    $$sum_{Jsubset I}(-1)^{|I|-|J|}(sum_{i in J} a_i)^{[n]}$$



    Consider a product $a_{i_1}otimes ldots otimes a_{i_n}$. It appears in the above sum with the coefficient
    $$sum_{Jsubset K subset I}(-1)^{|I| - |J|}$$ where $J={i_1, ldots, i_n }$. This is $0$ for $Jne I$ and $1$ for $J=I$. ( a Möbius function)



    Therefore
    $$sum_{Jsubset I}(-1)^{|I|-|J|}(sum_{i in J} a_i)^{[n]}=sum_{phicolon {1,ldots n}to I,phi text{surjective}}a_{phi(1)}otimes ldots a_{phi(n)}$$



    Particular cases:




    1. $|I|>n$, we get $0$, the result desired.


    2. $|I|=n$, we get $sum_{phicolon {1,ldots n}to I,phi text{bijective}}a_{phi(1)}otimes ldots a_{phi(n)}$







    share|cite|improve this answer









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      $begingroup$

      Let me outline two other proofs. Let me first rename your $m$ and $n$ as $n$
      and $r$, since I find it confusing when $n$ is not the size of the square
      matrices involved. So you are claiming the following:




      Theorem 1. Let $mathbb{K}$ be a commutative ring. Let $ninmathbb{N}$
      and $rinmathbb{N}$ be such that $n<r$. Let $A_{1},A_{2},ldots,A_{r}$ be
      $ntimes n$-matrices over $mathbb{K}$. Then,
      begin{equation}
      sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
      ^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
      end{equation}




      Notice that I've snuck in one more little change into your formula: I've added
      the addend for $I=varnothing$. This addend usually doesn't contribute much,
      because $detleft( sumlimits_{iinvarnothing}A_{i}right) =detleft(
      0_{ntimes n}right) $
      is usually $0$... unless $n=0$, in which case it
      contributes $detleft( 0_{0times0}right) =1$ (keep in mind that there is
      only one $0times0$-matrix and its determinant is $1$), and the whole equality
      fails if this addend is missing.



      A first proof of Theorem 1 appears in (the solution to) Exercise 6.53 in my
      Notes on the combinatorial fundamentals of algebra, version of 10 January
      2019. (To obtain
      Theorem 1 from this exercise, set $G=left{ 1,2,ldots,rright} $.) The
      main idea of this proof is that Theorem 1 holds not only for determinants, but
      also for each of the $n!$ products that make up the determinant (assuming that
      you define the determinant of an $ntimes n$-matrix as a sum over the $n!$
      permutations); this is proven by interchanging summation signs and exploiting
      discrete "destructive interference" (i.e., the fact that if $G$ is a finite
      set and $R$ is a subset of $G$, then $sumlimits_{substack{Isubseteq
      G;\Rsubseteq I}}left( -1right) ^{leftvert Irightvert }=
      begin{cases}
      1, & text{if }R=G;\
      0, & text{if }Rneq G
      end{cases}
      $
      ).



      Let me now sketch a second proof of Theorem 1, which shows that it isn't
      really about determinants. It is about finite differences, in a slightly more
      general context than they are usually studied.



      Let $M$ be any $mathbb{K}$-module. The dual $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee
      }=operatorname{Hom}_{mathbb{K}}left( M,mathbb{K}right) $
      of
      $M$ consists of all $mathbb{K}$-linear maps $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. Thus,
      $M^{vee}$ is a $mathbb{K}$-submodule of the $mathbb{K}$-module
      $mathbb{K}^{M}$ of all maps $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. The $mathbb{K}
      $
      -module $mathbb{K}^{M}$ becomes a commutative $mathbb{K}$-algebra (we just
      define multiplication to be pointwise, i.e., the product $fg$ of two maps
      $f,g:Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$ sends each $min M$ to $fleft( mright)
      gleft( mright) inmathbb{K}$
      ).



      For any $dinmathbb{N}$, we let $M^{vee d}$ be the $mathbb{K}$-linear span
      of all elements of $mathbb{K}^{M}$ of the form $f_{1}f_{2}cdots f_{d}$ for
      $f_{1},f_{2},ldots,f_{d}in M^{vee}$. (For $d=0$, the only such element is
      the empty product $1$, so $M^{vee0}$ consists of the constant maps
      $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. Notice also that $M^{vee1}=M^{vee}$.) The elements
      of $M^{vee d}$ are called homogeneous polynomial functions of degree $d$ on
      $M$
      . The underlying idea is that if $M$ is a free $mathbb{K}$-module with a
      given basis, then the elements of $M^{vee d}$ are the maps $Mrightarrow
      mathbb{K}$
      that can be expressed as polynomials of the coordinate functions
      with respect to this basis; but the $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee d}$ makes
      perfect sense whether or not $M$ is free.



      We also set $M^{vee d}=0$ (the zero $mathbb{K}$-submodule of $mathbb{K}
      ^{M}$
      ) for $d<0$.



      For each $d in mathbb{Z}$, we define a $mathbb{K}$-submodule
      $M^{vee leq d}$ of $mathbb{K}^M$ by
      begin{equation}
      M^{vee leq d} = sumlimits_{i leq d} M^{vee i} .
      end{equation}

      The elements of $M^{vee leq d}$ are called (inhomogeneous) polynomial
      functions of degree $leq d$ on $M$
      .
      The submodules $M^{vee leq d}$ satisfy
      begin{equation}
      M^{vee leq d} M^{vee leq e} subseteq M^{vee leq left(d+eright)}
      end{equation}

      for any integers $d$ and $e$.



      For any $xin M$, we define the $mathbb{K}$-linear map $S_{x}:mathbb{K}
      ^{M}rightarrowmathbb{K}^{M}$
      by setting
      begin{equation}
      left( S_{x}fright) left( mright) =fleft( m+xright) qquadtext{for
      each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
      end{equation}

      This map $S_{x}$ is called a shift operator. It is an endomorphism of the
      $mathbb{K}$-algebra $mathbb{K}^{M}$ and preserves all the $mathbb{K}
      $
      -submodules $M^{vee leq d}$ (for all $dinmathbb{Z}$).



      Moreover, for any $xin M$, we define the $mathbb{K}$-linear map $Delta
      _{x}:mathbb{K}^{M}rightarrowmathbb{K}^{M}$
      by $Delta_{x}
      =operatorname*{id}-S_{x}$
      . Hence,
      begin{equation}
      left( Delta_{x}fright) left( mright) =fleft( mright) -fleft(
      m+xright) qquadtext{for each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
      end{equation}

      This map $Delta_{x}$ is called a difference operator. The following crucial
      fact shows that it "decrements the degree" of a polynomial function, similarly
      to how differentiation decrements the degree of a polynomial:




      Lemma 2. Let $x in M$. Then,
      $Delta_{x}M^{vee d}subseteq M^{vee leq left( d-1right)}$
      for each $dinmathbb{Z}$.




      [Let me sketch a proof of Lemma 2:



      Lemma 2 clearly holds for $d < 0$ (since $M^{vee d} = 0$ if $d < 0$).
      Hence, it remains to prove Lemma 2 for $d geq 0$.
      We shall prove this by induction on $d$.
      The induction base is the case $d = 0$, which is easy to
      check (indeed, each $f in M^{vee 0}$ is a constant map, and thus
      satisfies $Delta_x f = 0$; therefore,
      $Delta_{x}M^{vee 0} = 0 subseteq M^{vee leq left( 0-1right) }$).



      For the induction step, we fix some nonnegative integer $e$, and assume
      that Lemma 2 holds for $d = e$. We must then show that Lemma 2
      holds for $d = e+1$.



      We have assumed that Lemma 2 holds for $d = e$.
      In other words, we have
      $Delta_{x}M^{vee e}subseteq M^{vee leq left( e-1right)}$.



      Our goal is to show that Lemma 2
      holds for $d = e+1$. In other words, our goal is to show
      that
      $Delta_{x}M^{vee left(e+1right)}subseteq M^{vee leq e}$.



      But the $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee left(e+1right)}$ is
      spanned by maps of the form $fg$ with $fin M^{vee e}$ and
      $gin M^{vee}$ (since it is spanned by products of the
      form $f_1 f_2 cdots f_{e+1}$ with
      $f_1, f_2, ldots, f_{e+1} in M^{vee}$, but each such
      product can be rewritten in the form $fg$
      with $f = f_1 f_2 cdots f_e in M^{vee e}$ and
      $g = f_{e+1} in M^{vee}$).
      Hence, it suffices to show that
      $Delta_x left( fg right) in M^{vee leq e}$
      for each $fin M^{vee e}$ and
      $gin M^{vee}$.



      Let us first notice that if $g in M^{vee}$ is arbitrary,
      then $Delta_x g$ is the constant map whose value is
      $- gleft(xright)$
      (because each $m in M$ satisfies
      begin{equation}
      left(Delta_x gright) left(mright)
      = gleft(mright) - underbrace{gleft(m+xright)}_{substack{=gleft(mright) + gleft(xright)\ text{(since }g text{ is } mathbb{K}text{-linear)}}}
      = gleft(mright) - left(gleft(mright) + gleft(xright)right)
      = - gleft(xright)
      end{equation}

      ), and thus belongs to $M^{vee 0}$.
      In other words, $Delta_x M^{vee} subseteq M^{vee 0}$.



      For each $f in mathbb{K}^M$ and $g in mathbb{K}^M$,
      we have
      begin{align*}
      Delta_{x}left( fgright) & =left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right)
      left( fgright) qquadleft( text{since }Delta_{x}=operatorname*{id}
      -S_{x}right) \
      & =fg-underbrace{S_{x}left( fgright) }_{substack{=left( S_{x}fright)
      left( S_{x}gright) \text{(since }S_{x}text{ is an endomorphism}
      \text{of the }mathbb{K}text{-algebra }mathbb{K}^{M}text{)}}}\
      & =fg-left( S_{x}fright) left( S_{x}gright) =underbrace{left(
      f-S_{x}fright) }_{=left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) f}g+left(
      S_{x}fright) underbrace{left( x-S_{x}gright) }_{=left(
      operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) g}\
      & =left( underbrace{left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) }_{=Delta
      _{x}}fright) g+left( S_{x}fright) left( underbrace{left(
      operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) }_{=Delta_{x}}gright) \
      & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+left(
      underbrace{S_{x}}_{substack{=operatorname*{id}-Delta_{x}\
      text{(since }Delta
      _{x}=operatorname*{id}-S_{x}text{)}}}fright) left( Delta_{x}gright)
      \
      & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+underbrace{left( left(
      operatorname*{id}-Delta_{x}right) fright) }_{=f-Delta_{x}f}left(
      Delta_{x}gright) \
      & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+left( f-Delta_{x}fright) left(
      Delta_{x}gright) \
      & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+fleft( Delta_{x}gright) -left(
      Delta_{x}fright) left( Delta_{x}gright) .
      end{align*}

      Hence, for each $fin M^{vee e}$ and $gin M^{vee}$, we have
      begin{align*}
      Delta_{x}left( fgright) & =left( Delta_{x}underbrace{f}_{in
      M^{vee e}}right) underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}+underbrace{f}_{in M^{vee
      e}}left( Delta_{x}underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}right) -left( Delta
      _{x}underbrace{f}_{in M^{vee e}}right)
      left( Delta_{x}underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}right) \
      & inunderbrace{left( Delta_{x}M^{vee e}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee
      leqleft( e-1right) }}M^{vee}+M^{vee e}underbrace{left( Delta
      _{x}M^{vee}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee0}}-underbrace{left( Delta
      _{x}M^{vee e}right) }_{subseteq M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }
      }underbrace{left( Delta_{x}M^{vee}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee0}}\
      & subsetequnderbrace{M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }M^{vee}}_{subseteq
      M^{veeleq e}}+underbrace{M^{vee e}M^{vee0}}_{subseteq M^{vee
      e}subseteq M^{veeleq e}}-underbrace{M^{veeleqleft( e-1right)
      }M^{vee0}}_{subseteq M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }subseteq M^{veeleq
      e}}\
      & subseteq M^{veeleq e}+M^{veeleq e}-M^{veeleq e}subseteq M^{veeleq
      e}.
      end{align*}

      This proves that $Delta_{x}left( M^{veeleft( e+1right) }right)
      subseteq M^{veeleq e}$
      , as we intended to prove.



      Thus, the induction step is complete, and Lemma 2 is proven.]



      The following fact follows by induction using Lemma 2:




      Corollary 3. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
      elements of $M$. Then,
      begin{equation}
      Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}M^{vee d}subseteq
      M^{vee leq left( d-rright) }
      end{equation}

      for each $dinmathbb{Z}$.




      And as a consequence of this, we obtain the following:




      Corollary 4. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
      elements of $M$. Then,
      begin{equation}
      Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}M^{vee d}=0
      end{equation}

      for each $dinmathbb{Z}$ satisfying $d<r$.




      [In fact, Corollary 4 follows immediately from Corollary 3, because $d<r$
      implies $M^{vee leq left( d-rright) }=0$.]



      To make use of Corollary 4, we want a more-or-less explicit expression for how
      $Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}$ acts on maps in
      $mathbb{K}^{M}$. This is the following fact:




      Proposition 5. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
      elements of $M$. Then,
      begin{equation}
      left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}fright) left(
      mright) =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
      ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right)
      qquadtext{for each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
      end{equation}




      [Proposition 5 can be proven by induction over $r$, where the induction step
      involves splitting the sum on the right hand side into the part with the $I$
      that contain $r$ and the part with the $I$ that don't. But there is also a
      slicker argument, which needs some preparation. The maps $S_{x}in
      operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}}left( mathbb{K}^{M}right) $
      for
      different elements $xin M$ commute; better yet, they satisfy the
      multiplication rule $S_{x}S_{y}=S_{x+y}$ (as can be checked immediately).
      Hence, by induction over $leftvert Irightvert $, we conclude that if $I$
      is any finite set, and if $x_{i}$ is an element of $M$ for each $iin I$, then
      begin{equation}
      prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}=S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}
      qquad text{in the ring } operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}} left(mathbb{K}^Mright) .
      end{equation}

      I shall refer to this fact as the S-multiplication rule.



      Now, let us prove Proposition 5. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
      elements of $M$. Recall the well-known formula
      begin{equation}
      prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( 1-a_{i}right)
      =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
      ^{leftvert Irightvert }prodlimits_{iin I}a_{i},
      end{equation}

      which holds whenever $a_{1},a_{2},ldots,a_{r}$ are commuting elements of some
      ring. Applying this formula to $a_{i}=S_{x_{i}}$, we obtain
      begin{equation}
      prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( operatorname*{id}
      -S_{x_{i}}right) =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left(
      -1right) ^{leftvert Irightvert }prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}
      end{equation}

      (since $S_{x_{1}},S_{x_{2}},ldots,S_{x_{r}}$ are commuting elements of the
      ring $operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}}left( mathbb{K}^{M}right)
      $
      ). Thus,
      begin{align*}
      Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}} & =prodlimits_{iinleft{
      1,2,ldots,rright} }underbrace{Delta_{x_{i}}}
      _{substack{=operatorname*{id}-S_{x_{i}}\text{(by the definition of }
      Delta_{x_{i}}text{)}}}=prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left(
      operatorname*{id}-S_{x_{i}}right) \
      & =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
      ^{leftvert Irightvert }underbrace{prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}}
      _{substack{=S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}\text{(by the S-multiplication rule)}
      }}=sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
      ^{leftvert Irightvert }S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}.
      end{align*}

      Hence, for each $min M$ and $finmathbb{K}^{M}$, we obtain
      begin{align*}
      & left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}fright) left(
      mright) \
      & =left( sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
      ^{leftvert Irightvert }S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}fright) left( mright)
      \
      & =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
      ^{leftvert Irightvert }underbrace{left( S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}fright)
      left( mright) }_{substack{=fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right)
      \text{(by the definition of the shift operators)}}}\
      & =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
      ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) .
      end{align*}

      Thus, Proposition 5 is proven.]



      We can now combine Corollary 4 with Proposition 5 and obtain the following:




      Corollary 6. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$ elements of $M$. Let
      $dinmathbb{Z}$ be such that $d<r$. Let $fin M^{vee d}$ and $min M$. Then,
      begin{equation}
      sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
      ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) =0.
      end{equation}




      [Indeed, Corollary 6 follows from the computation
      begin{align*}
      & sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
      ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) \
      & =underbrace{left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}
      }fright) }_{substack{=0\text{(by Corollary 4, since } f in M^{vee d} text{)}}}left( mright)
      qquadleft( text{by Proposition 5}right) \
      & =0.
      end{align*}

      ]



      Finally, let us prove Theorem 1. The matrix ring $mathbb{K}^{ntimes n}$ is a
      $mathbb{K}$-module. Let $M$ be this $mathbb{K}$-module $mathbb{K}^{ntimes
      n}$
      . For each $i,jinleft{ 1,2,ldots,nright} $, we let $x_{i,j}$ be the
      map $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$ that sends each matrix $M$ to its $left(
      i,jright) $
      -th entry; this map $x_{i,j}$ is $mathbb{K}$-linear and thus
      belongs to $M^{vee}$.



      It is easy to see that the map $det:mathbb{K}^{ntimes n}rightarrow
      mathbb{K}$
      (sending each $ntimes n$-matrix to its determinant) is a
      homogeneous polynomial function of degree $n$ on $M$; indeed, it can be
      represented in the commutative $mathbb{K}$-algebra $mathbb{K}^M$ as
      begin{equation}
      det=sumlimits_{sigmain S_{n}}left( -1right) ^{sigma}x_{1,sigmaleft(
      1right) }x_{2,sigmaleft( 2right) }cdots x_{n,sigmaleft( nright)
      },
      end{equation}

      where $S_{n}$ is the $n$-th symmetric group, and where $left( -1right)
      ^{sigma}$
      denotes the sign of a permutation $sigma$. In other words,
      $detin M^{vee n}$. Hence, Corollary 6 (applied to $x_{i}=A_{i}$, $d=n$,
      $f=det$ and $m=0$) yields
      begin{equation}
      sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
      ^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( 0+sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
      end{equation}

      In other words,
      begin{equation}
      sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
      ^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
      end{equation}

      This proves Theorem 1. $blacksquare$






      share|cite|improve this answer











      $endgroup$


















        4












        $begingroup$

        Let me outline two other proofs. Let me first rename your $m$ and $n$ as $n$
        and $r$, since I find it confusing when $n$ is not the size of the square
        matrices involved. So you are claiming the following:




        Theorem 1. Let $mathbb{K}$ be a commutative ring. Let $ninmathbb{N}$
        and $rinmathbb{N}$ be such that $n<r$. Let $A_{1},A_{2},ldots,A_{r}$ be
        $ntimes n$-matrices over $mathbb{K}$. Then,
        begin{equation}
        sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
        ^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
        end{equation}




        Notice that I've snuck in one more little change into your formula: I've added
        the addend for $I=varnothing$. This addend usually doesn't contribute much,
        because $detleft( sumlimits_{iinvarnothing}A_{i}right) =detleft(
        0_{ntimes n}right) $
        is usually $0$... unless $n=0$, in which case it
        contributes $detleft( 0_{0times0}right) =1$ (keep in mind that there is
        only one $0times0$-matrix and its determinant is $1$), and the whole equality
        fails if this addend is missing.



        A first proof of Theorem 1 appears in (the solution to) Exercise 6.53 in my
        Notes on the combinatorial fundamentals of algebra, version of 10 January
        2019. (To obtain
        Theorem 1 from this exercise, set $G=left{ 1,2,ldots,rright} $.) The
        main idea of this proof is that Theorem 1 holds not only for determinants, but
        also for each of the $n!$ products that make up the determinant (assuming that
        you define the determinant of an $ntimes n$-matrix as a sum over the $n!$
        permutations); this is proven by interchanging summation signs and exploiting
        discrete "destructive interference" (i.e., the fact that if $G$ is a finite
        set and $R$ is a subset of $G$, then $sumlimits_{substack{Isubseteq
        G;\Rsubseteq I}}left( -1right) ^{leftvert Irightvert }=
        begin{cases}
        1, & text{if }R=G;\
        0, & text{if }Rneq G
        end{cases}
        $
        ).



        Let me now sketch a second proof of Theorem 1, which shows that it isn't
        really about determinants. It is about finite differences, in a slightly more
        general context than they are usually studied.



        Let $M$ be any $mathbb{K}$-module. The dual $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee
        }=operatorname{Hom}_{mathbb{K}}left( M,mathbb{K}right) $
        of
        $M$ consists of all $mathbb{K}$-linear maps $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. Thus,
        $M^{vee}$ is a $mathbb{K}$-submodule of the $mathbb{K}$-module
        $mathbb{K}^{M}$ of all maps $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. The $mathbb{K}
        $
        -module $mathbb{K}^{M}$ becomes a commutative $mathbb{K}$-algebra (we just
        define multiplication to be pointwise, i.e., the product $fg$ of two maps
        $f,g:Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$ sends each $min M$ to $fleft( mright)
        gleft( mright) inmathbb{K}$
        ).



        For any $dinmathbb{N}$, we let $M^{vee d}$ be the $mathbb{K}$-linear span
        of all elements of $mathbb{K}^{M}$ of the form $f_{1}f_{2}cdots f_{d}$ for
        $f_{1},f_{2},ldots,f_{d}in M^{vee}$. (For $d=0$, the only such element is
        the empty product $1$, so $M^{vee0}$ consists of the constant maps
        $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. Notice also that $M^{vee1}=M^{vee}$.) The elements
        of $M^{vee d}$ are called homogeneous polynomial functions of degree $d$ on
        $M$
        . The underlying idea is that if $M$ is a free $mathbb{K}$-module with a
        given basis, then the elements of $M^{vee d}$ are the maps $Mrightarrow
        mathbb{K}$
        that can be expressed as polynomials of the coordinate functions
        with respect to this basis; but the $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee d}$ makes
        perfect sense whether or not $M$ is free.



        We also set $M^{vee d}=0$ (the zero $mathbb{K}$-submodule of $mathbb{K}
        ^{M}$
        ) for $d<0$.



        For each $d in mathbb{Z}$, we define a $mathbb{K}$-submodule
        $M^{vee leq d}$ of $mathbb{K}^M$ by
        begin{equation}
        M^{vee leq d} = sumlimits_{i leq d} M^{vee i} .
        end{equation}

        The elements of $M^{vee leq d}$ are called (inhomogeneous) polynomial
        functions of degree $leq d$ on $M$
        .
        The submodules $M^{vee leq d}$ satisfy
        begin{equation}
        M^{vee leq d} M^{vee leq e} subseteq M^{vee leq left(d+eright)}
        end{equation}

        for any integers $d$ and $e$.



        For any $xin M$, we define the $mathbb{K}$-linear map $S_{x}:mathbb{K}
        ^{M}rightarrowmathbb{K}^{M}$
        by setting
        begin{equation}
        left( S_{x}fright) left( mright) =fleft( m+xright) qquadtext{for
        each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
        end{equation}

        This map $S_{x}$ is called a shift operator. It is an endomorphism of the
        $mathbb{K}$-algebra $mathbb{K}^{M}$ and preserves all the $mathbb{K}
        $
        -submodules $M^{vee leq d}$ (for all $dinmathbb{Z}$).



        Moreover, for any $xin M$, we define the $mathbb{K}$-linear map $Delta
        _{x}:mathbb{K}^{M}rightarrowmathbb{K}^{M}$
        by $Delta_{x}
        =operatorname*{id}-S_{x}$
        . Hence,
        begin{equation}
        left( Delta_{x}fright) left( mright) =fleft( mright) -fleft(
        m+xright) qquadtext{for each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
        end{equation}

        This map $Delta_{x}$ is called a difference operator. The following crucial
        fact shows that it "decrements the degree" of a polynomial function, similarly
        to how differentiation decrements the degree of a polynomial:




        Lemma 2. Let $x in M$. Then,
        $Delta_{x}M^{vee d}subseteq M^{vee leq left( d-1right)}$
        for each $dinmathbb{Z}$.




        [Let me sketch a proof of Lemma 2:



        Lemma 2 clearly holds for $d < 0$ (since $M^{vee d} = 0$ if $d < 0$).
        Hence, it remains to prove Lemma 2 for $d geq 0$.
        We shall prove this by induction on $d$.
        The induction base is the case $d = 0$, which is easy to
        check (indeed, each $f in M^{vee 0}$ is a constant map, and thus
        satisfies $Delta_x f = 0$; therefore,
        $Delta_{x}M^{vee 0} = 0 subseteq M^{vee leq left( 0-1right) }$).



        For the induction step, we fix some nonnegative integer $e$, and assume
        that Lemma 2 holds for $d = e$. We must then show that Lemma 2
        holds for $d = e+1$.



        We have assumed that Lemma 2 holds for $d = e$.
        In other words, we have
        $Delta_{x}M^{vee e}subseteq M^{vee leq left( e-1right)}$.



        Our goal is to show that Lemma 2
        holds for $d = e+1$. In other words, our goal is to show
        that
        $Delta_{x}M^{vee left(e+1right)}subseteq M^{vee leq e}$.



        But the $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee left(e+1right)}$ is
        spanned by maps of the form $fg$ with $fin M^{vee e}$ and
        $gin M^{vee}$ (since it is spanned by products of the
        form $f_1 f_2 cdots f_{e+1}$ with
        $f_1, f_2, ldots, f_{e+1} in M^{vee}$, but each such
        product can be rewritten in the form $fg$
        with $f = f_1 f_2 cdots f_e in M^{vee e}$ and
        $g = f_{e+1} in M^{vee}$).
        Hence, it suffices to show that
        $Delta_x left( fg right) in M^{vee leq e}$
        for each $fin M^{vee e}$ and
        $gin M^{vee}$.



        Let us first notice that if $g in M^{vee}$ is arbitrary,
        then $Delta_x g$ is the constant map whose value is
        $- gleft(xright)$
        (because each $m in M$ satisfies
        begin{equation}
        left(Delta_x gright) left(mright)
        = gleft(mright) - underbrace{gleft(m+xright)}_{substack{=gleft(mright) + gleft(xright)\ text{(since }g text{ is } mathbb{K}text{-linear)}}}
        = gleft(mright) - left(gleft(mright) + gleft(xright)right)
        = - gleft(xright)
        end{equation}

        ), and thus belongs to $M^{vee 0}$.
        In other words, $Delta_x M^{vee} subseteq M^{vee 0}$.



        For each $f in mathbb{K}^M$ and $g in mathbb{K}^M$,
        we have
        begin{align*}
        Delta_{x}left( fgright) & =left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right)
        left( fgright) qquadleft( text{since }Delta_{x}=operatorname*{id}
        -S_{x}right) \
        & =fg-underbrace{S_{x}left( fgright) }_{substack{=left( S_{x}fright)
        left( S_{x}gright) \text{(since }S_{x}text{ is an endomorphism}
        \text{of the }mathbb{K}text{-algebra }mathbb{K}^{M}text{)}}}\
        & =fg-left( S_{x}fright) left( S_{x}gright) =underbrace{left(
        f-S_{x}fright) }_{=left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) f}g+left(
        S_{x}fright) underbrace{left( x-S_{x}gright) }_{=left(
        operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) g}\
        & =left( underbrace{left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) }_{=Delta
        _{x}}fright) g+left( S_{x}fright) left( underbrace{left(
        operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) }_{=Delta_{x}}gright) \
        & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+left(
        underbrace{S_{x}}_{substack{=operatorname*{id}-Delta_{x}\
        text{(since }Delta
        _{x}=operatorname*{id}-S_{x}text{)}}}fright) left( Delta_{x}gright)
        \
        & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+underbrace{left( left(
        operatorname*{id}-Delta_{x}right) fright) }_{=f-Delta_{x}f}left(
        Delta_{x}gright) \
        & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+left( f-Delta_{x}fright) left(
        Delta_{x}gright) \
        & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+fleft( Delta_{x}gright) -left(
        Delta_{x}fright) left( Delta_{x}gright) .
        end{align*}

        Hence, for each $fin M^{vee e}$ and $gin M^{vee}$, we have
        begin{align*}
        Delta_{x}left( fgright) & =left( Delta_{x}underbrace{f}_{in
        M^{vee e}}right) underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}+underbrace{f}_{in M^{vee
        e}}left( Delta_{x}underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}right) -left( Delta
        _{x}underbrace{f}_{in M^{vee e}}right)
        left( Delta_{x}underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}right) \
        & inunderbrace{left( Delta_{x}M^{vee e}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee
        leqleft( e-1right) }}M^{vee}+M^{vee e}underbrace{left( Delta
        _{x}M^{vee}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee0}}-underbrace{left( Delta
        _{x}M^{vee e}right) }_{subseteq M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }
        }underbrace{left( Delta_{x}M^{vee}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee0}}\
        & subsetequnderbrace{M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }M^{vee}}_{subseteq
        M^{veeleq e}}+underbrace{M^{vee e}M^{vee0}}_{subseteq M^{vee
        e}subseteq M^{veeleq e}}-underbrace{M^{veeleqleft( e-1right)
        }M^{vee0}}_{subseteq M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }subseteq M^{veeleq
        e}}\
        & subseteq M^{veeleq e}+M^{veeleq e}-M^{veeleq e}subseteq M^{veeleq
        e}.
        end{align*}

        This proves that $Delta_{x}left( M^{veeleft( e+1right) }right)
        subseteq M^{veeleq e}$
        , as we intended to prove.



        Thus, the induction step is complete, and Lemma 2 is proven.]



        The following fact follows by induction using Lemma 2:




        Corollary 3. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
        elements of $M$. Then,
        begin{equation}
        Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}M^{vee d}subseteq
        M^{vee leq left( d-rright) }
        end{equation}

        for each $dinmathbb{Z}$.




        And as a consequence of this, we obtain the following:




        Corollary 4. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
        elements of $M$. Then,
        begin{equation}
        Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}M^{vee d}=0
        end{equation}

        for each $dinmathbb{Z}$ satisfying $d<r$.




        [In fact, Corollary 4 follows immediately from Corollary 3, because $d<r$
        implies $M^{vee leq left( d-rright) }=0$.]



        To make use of Corollary 4, we want a more-or-less explicit expression for how
        $Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}$ acts on maps in
        $mathbb{K}^{M}$. This is the following fact:




        Proposition 5. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
        elements of $M$. Then,
        begin{equation}
        left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}fright) left(
        mright) =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
        ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right)
        qquadtext{for each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
        end{equation}




        [Proposition 5 can be proven by induction over $r$, where the induction step
        involves splitting the sum on the right hand side into the part with the $I$
        that contain $r$ and the part with the $I$ that don't. But there is also a
        slicker argument, which needs some preparation. The maps $S_{x}in
        operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}}left( mathbb{K}^{M}right) $
        for
        different elements $xin M$ commute; better yet, they satisfy the
        multiplication rule $S_{x}S_{y}=S_{x+y}$ (as can be checked immediately).
        Hence, by induction over $leftvert Irightvert $, we conclude that if $I$
        is any finite set, and if $x_{i}$ is an element of $M$ for each $iin I$, then
        begin{equation}
        prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}=S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}
        qquad text{in the ring } operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}} left(mathbb{K}^Mright) .
        end{equation}

        I shall refer to this fact as the S-multiplication rule.



        Now, let us prove Proposition 5. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
        elements of $M$. Recall the well-known formula
        begin{equation}
        prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( 1-a_{i}right)
        =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
        ^{leftvert Irightvert }prodlimits_{iin I}a_{i},
        end{equation}

        which holds whenever $a_{1},a_{2},ldots,a_{r}$ are commuting elements of some
        ring. Applying this formula to $a_{i}=S_{x_{i}}$, we obtain
        begin{equation}
        prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( operatorname*{id}
        -S_{x_{i}}right) =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left(
        -1right) ^{leftvert Irightvert }prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}
        end{equation}

        (since $S_{x_{1}},S_{x_{2}},ldots,S_{x_{r}}$ are commuting elements of the
        ring $operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}}left( mathbb{K}^{M}right)
        $
        ). Thus,
        begin{align*}
        Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}} & =prodlimits_{iinleft{
        1,2,ldots,rright} }underbrace{Delta_{x_{i}}}
        _{substack{=operatorname*{id}-S_{x_{i}}\text{(by the definition of }
        Delta_{x_{i}}text{)}}}=prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left(
        operatorname*{id}-S_{x_{i}}right) \
        & =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
        ^{leftvert Irightvert }underbrace{prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}}
        _{substack{=S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}\text{(by the S-multiplication rule)}
        }}=sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
        ^{leftvert Irightvert }S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}.
        end{align*}

        Hence, for each $min M$ and $finmathbb{K}^{M}$, we obtain
        begin{align*}
        & left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}fright) left(
        mright) \
        & =left( sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
        ^{leftvert Irightvert }S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}fright) left( mright)
        \
        & =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
        ^{leftvert Irightvert }underbrace{left( S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}fright)
        left( mright) }_{substack{=fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right)
        \text{(by the definition of the shift operators)}}}\
        & =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
        ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) .
        end{align*}

        Thus, Proposition 5 is proven.]



        We can now combine Corollary 4 with Proposition 5 and obtain the following:




        Corollary 6. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$ elements of $M$. Let
        $dinmathbb{Z}$ be such that $d<r$. Let $fin M^{vee d}$ and $min M$. Then,
        begin{equation}
        sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
        ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) =0.
        end{equation}




        [Indeed, Corollary 6 follows from the computation
        begin{align*}
        & sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
        ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) \
        & =underbrace{left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}
        }fright) }_{substack{=0\text{(by Corollary 4, since } f in M^{vee d} text{)}}}left( mright)
        qquadleft( text{by Proposition 5}right) \
        & =0.
        end{align*}

        ]



        Finally, let us prove Theorem 1. The matrix ring $mathbb{K}^{ntimes n}$ is a
        $mathbb{K}$-module. Let $M$ be this $mathbb{K}$-module $mathbb{K}^{ntimes
        n}$
        . For each $i,jinleft{ 1,2,ldots,nright} $, we let $x_{i,j}$ be the
        map $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$ that sends each matrix $M$ to its $left(
        i,jright) $
        -th entry; this map $x_{i,j}$ is $mathbb{K}$-linear and thus
        belongs to $M^{vee}$.



        It is easy to see that the map $det:mathbb{K}^{ntimes n}rightarrow
        mathbb{K}$
        (sending each $ntimes n$-matrix to its determinant) is a
        homogeneous polynomial function of degree $n$ on $M$; indeed, it can be
        represented in the commutative $mathbb{K}$-algebra $mathbb{K}^M$ as
        begin{equation}
        det=sumlimits_{sigmain S_{n}}left( -1right) ^{sigma}x_{1,sigmaleft(
        1right) }x_{2,sigmaleft( 2right) }cdots x_{n,sigmaleft( nright)
        },
        end{equation}

        where $S_{n}$ is the $n$-th symmetric group, and where $left( -1right)
        ^{sigma}$
        denotes the sign of a permutation $sigma$. In other words,
        $detin M^{vee n}$. Hence, Corollary 6 (applied to $x_{i}=A_{i}$, $d=n$,
        $f=det$ and $m=0$) yields
        begin{equation}
        sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
        ^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( 0+sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
        end{equation}

        In other words,
        begin{equation}
        sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
        ^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
        end{equation}

        This proves Theorem 1. $blacksquare$






        share|cite|improve this answer











        $endgroup$
















          4












          4








          4





          $begingroup$

          Let me outline two other proofs. Let me first rename your $m$ and $n$ as $n$
          and $r$, since I find it confusing when $n$ is not the size of the square
          matrices involved. So you are claiming the following:




          Theorem 1. Let $mathbb{K}$ be a commutative ring. Let $ninmathbb{N}$
          and $rinmathbb{N}$ be such that $n<r$. Let $A_{1},A_{2},ldots,A_{r}$ be
          $ntimes n$-matrices over $mathbb{K}$. Then,
          begin{equation}
          sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
          end{equation}




          Notice that I've snuck in one more little change into your formula: I've added
          the addend for $I=varnothing$. This addend usually doesn't contribute much,
          because $detleft( sumlimits_{iinvarnothing}A_{i}right) =detleft(
          0_{ntimes n}right) $
          is usually $0$... unless $n=0$, in which case it
          contributes $detleft( 0_{0times0}right) =1$ (keep in mind that there is
          only one $0times0$-matrix and its determinant is $1$), and the whole equality
          fails if this addend is missing.



          A first proof of Theorem 1 appears in (the solution to) Exercise 6.53 in my
          Notes on the combinatorial fundamentals of algebra, version of 10 January
          2019. (To obtain
          Theorem 1 from this exercise, set $G=left{ 1,2,ldots,rright} $.) The
          main idea of this proof is that Theorem 1 holds not only for determinants, but
          also for each of the $n!$ products that make up the determinant (assuming that
          you define the determinant of an $ntimes n$-matrix as a sum over the $n!$
          permutations); this is proven by interchanging summation signs and exploiting
          discrete "destructive interference" (i.e., the fact that if $G$ is a finite
          set and $R$ is a subset of $G$, then $sumlimits_{substack{Isubseteq
          G;\Rsubseteq I}}left( -1right) ^{leftvert Irightvert }=
          begin{cases}
          1, & text{if }R=G;\
          0, & text{if }Rneq G
          end{cases}
          $
          ).



          Let me now sketch a second proof of Theorem 1, which shows that it isn't
          really about determinants. It is about finite differences, in a slightly more
          general context than they are usually studied.



          Let $M$ be any $mathbb{K}$-module. The dual $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee
          }=operatorname{Hom}_{mathbb{K}}left( M,mathbb{K}right) $
          of
          $M$ consists of all $mathbb{K}$-linear maps $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. Thus,
          $M^{vee}$ is a $mathbb{K}$-submodule of the $mathbb{K}$-module
          $mathbb{K}^{M}$ of all maps $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. The $mathbb{K}
          $
          -module $mathbb{K}^{M}$ becomes a commutative $mathbb{K}$-algebra (we just
          define multiplication to be pointwise, i.e., the product $fg$ of two maps
          $f,g:Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$ sends each $min M$ to $fleft( mright)
          gleft( mright) inmathbb{K}$
          ).



          For any $dinmathbb{N}$, we let $M^{vee d}$ be the $mathbb{K}$-linear span
          of all elements of $mathbb{K}^{M}$ of the form $f_{1}f_{2}cdots f_{d}$ for
          $f_{1},f_{2},ldots,f_{d}in M^{vee}$. (For $d=0$, the only such element is
          the empty product $1$, so $M^{vee0}$ consists of the constant maps
          $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. Notice also that $M^{vee1}=M^{vee}$.) The elements
          of $M^{vee d}$ are called homogeneous polynomial functions of degree $d$ on
          $M$
          . The underlying idea is that if $M$ is a free $mathbb{K}$-module with a
          given basis, then the elements of $M^{vee d}$ are the maps $Mrightarrow
          mathbb{K}$
          that can be expressed as polynomials of the coordinate functions
          with respect to this basis; but the $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee d}$ makes
          perfect sense whether or not $M$ is free.



          We also set $M^{vee d}=0$ (the zero $mathbb{K}$-submodule of $mathbb{K}
          ^{M}$
          ) for $d<0$.



          For each $d in mathbb{Z}$, we define a $mathbb{K}$-submodule
          $M^{vee leq d}$ of $mathbb{K}^M$ by
          begin{equation}
          M^{vee leq d} = sumlimits_{i leq d} M^{vee i} .
          end{equation}

          The elements of $M^{vee leq d}$ are called (inhomogeneous) polynomial
          functions of degree $leq d$ on $M$
          .
          The submodules $M^{vee leq d}$ satisfy
          begin{equation}
          M^{vee leq d} M^{vee leq e} subseteq M^{vee leq left(d+eright)}
          end{equation}

          for any integers $d$ and $e$.



          For any $xin M$, we define the $mathbb{K}$-linear map $S_{x}:mathbb{K}
          ^{M}rightarrowmathbb{K}^{M}$
          by setting
          begin{equation}
          left( S_{x}fright) left( mright) =fleft( m+xright) qquadtext{for
          each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
          end{equation}

          This map $S_{x}$ is called a shift operator. It is an endomorphism of the
          $mathbb{K}$-algebra $mathbb{K}^{M}$ and preserves all the $mathbb{K}
          $
          -submodules $M^{vee leq d}$ (for all $dinmathbb{Z}$).



          Moreover, for any $xin M$, we define the $mathbb{K}$-linear map $Delta
          _{x}:mathbb{K}^{M}rightarrowmathbb{K}^{M}$
          by $Delta_{x}
          =operatorname*{id}-S_{x}$
          . Hence,
          begin{equation}
          left( Delta_{x}fright) left( mright) =fleft( mright) -fleft(
          m+xright) qquadtext{for each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
          end{equation}

          This map $Delta_{x}$ is called a difference operator. The following crucial
          fact shows that it "decrements the degree" of a polynomial function, similarly
          to how differentiation decrements the degree of a polynomial:




          Lemma 2. Let $x in M$. Then,
          $Delta_{x}M^{vee d}subseteq M^{vee leq left( d-1right)}$
          for each $dinmathbb{Z}$.




          [Let me sketch a proof of Lemma 2:



          Lemma 2 clearly holds for $d < 0$ (since $M^{vee d} = 0$ if $d < 0$).
          Hence, it remains to prove Lemma 2 for $d geq 0$.
          We shall prove this by induction on $d$.
          The induction base is the case $d = 0$, which is easy to
          check (indeed, each $f in M^{vee 0}$ is a constant map, and thus
          satisfies $Delta_x f = 0$; therefore,
          $Delta_{x}M^{vee 0} = 0 subseteq M^{vee leq left( 0-1right) }$).



          For the induction step, we fix some nonnegative integer $e$, and assume
          that Lemma 2 holds for $d = e$. We must then show that Lemma 2
          holds for $d = e+1$.



          We have assumed that Lemma 2 holds for $d = e$.
          In other words, we have
          $Delta_{x}M^{vee e}subseteq M^{vee leq left( e-1right)}$.



          Our goal is to show that Lemma 2
          holds for $d = e+1$. In other words, our goal is to show
          that
          $Delta_{x}M^{vee left(e+1right)}subseteq M^{vee leq e}$.



          But the $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee left(e+1right)}$ is
          spanned by maps of the form $fg$ with $fin M^{vee e}$ and
          $gin M^{vee}$ (since it is spanned by products of the
          form $f_1 f_2 cdots f_{e+1}$ with
          $f_1, f_2, ldots, f_{e+1} in M^{vee}$, but each such
          product can be rewritten in the form $fg$
          with $f = f_1 f_2 cdots f_e in M^{vee e}$ and
          $g = f_{e+1} in M^{vee}$).
          Hence, it suffices to show that
          $Delta_x left( fg right) in M^{vee leq e}$
          for each $fin M^{vee e}$ and
          $gin M^{vee}$.



          Let us first notice that if $g in M^{vee}$ is arbitrary,
          then $Delta_x g$ is the constant map whose value is
          $- gleft(xright)$
          (because each $m in M$ satisfies
          begin{equation}
          left(Delta_x gright) left(mright)
          = gleft(mright) - underbrace{gleft(m+xright)}_{substack{=gleft(mright) + gleft(xright)\ text{(since }g text{ is } mathbb{K}text{-linear)}}}
          = gleft(mright) - left(gleft(mright) + gleft(xright)right)
          = - gleft(xright)
          end{equation}

          ), and thus belongs to $M^{vee 0}$.
          In other words, $Delta_x M^{vee} subseteq M^{vee 0}$.



          For each $f in mathbb{K}^M$ and $g in mathbb{K}^M$,
          we have
          begin{align*}
          Delta_{x}left( fgright) & =left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right)
          left( fgright) qquadleft( text{since }Delta_{x}=operatorname*{id}
          -S_{x}right) \
          & =fg-underbrace{S_{x}left( fgright) }_{substack{=left( S_{x}fright)
          left( S_{x}gright) \text{(since }S_{x}text{ is an endomorphism}
          \text{of the }mathbb{K}text{-algebra }mathbb{K}^{M}text{)}}}\
          & =fg-left( S_{x}fright) left( S_{x}gright) =underbrace{left(
          f-S_{x}fright) }_{=left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) f}g+left(
          S_{x}fright) underbrace{left( x-S_{x}gright) }_{=left(
          operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) g}\
          & =left( underbrace{left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) }_{=Delta
          _{x}}fright) g+left( S_{x}fright) left( underbrace{left(
          operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) }_{=Delta_{x}}gright) \
          & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+left(
          underbrace{S_{x}}_{substack{=operatorname*{id}-Delta_{x}\
          text{(since }Delta
          _{x}=operatorname*{id}-S_{x}text{)}}}fright) left( Delta_{x}gright)
          \
          & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+underbrace{left( left(
          operatorname*{id}-Delta_{x}right) fright) }_{=f-Delta_{x}f}left(
          Delta_{x}gright) \
          & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+left( f-Delta_{x}fright) left(
          Delta_{x}gright) \
          & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+fleft( Delta_{x}gright) -left(
          Delta_{x}fright) left( Delta_{x}gright) .
          end{align*}

          Hence, for each $fin M^{vee e}$ and $gin M^{vee}$, we have
          begin{align*}
          Delta_{x}left( fgright) & =left( Delta_{x}underbrace{f}_{in
          M^{vee e}}right) underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}+underbrace{f}_{in M^{vee
          e}}left( Delta_{x}underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}right) -left( Delta
          _{x}underbrace{f}_{in M^{vee e}}right)
          left( Delta_{x}underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}right) \
          & inunderbrace{left( Delta_{x}M^{vee e}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee
          leqleft( e-1right) }}M^{vee}+M^{vee e}underbrace{left( Delta
          _{x}M^{vee}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee0}}-underbrace{left( Delta
          _{x}M^{vee e}right) }_{subseteq M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }
          }underbrace{left( Delta_{x}M^{vee}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee0}}\
          & subsetequnderbrace{M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }M^{vee}}_{subseteq
          M^{veeleq e}}+underbrace{M^{vee e}M^{vee0}}_{subseteq M^{vee
          e}subseteq M^{veeleq e}}-underbrace{M^{veeleqleft( e-1right)
          }M^{vee0}}_{subseteq M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }subseteq M^{veeleq
          e}}\
          & subseteq M^{veeleq e}+M^{veeleq e}-M^{veeleq e}subseteq M^{veeleq
          e}.
          end{align*}

          This proves that $Delta_{x}left( M^{veeleft( e+1right) }right)
          subseteq M^{veeleq e}$
          , as we intended to prove.



          Thus, the induction step is complete, and Lemma 2 is proven.]



          The following fact follows by induction using Lemma 2:




          Corollary 3. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
          elements of $M$. Then,
          begin{equation}
          Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}M^{vee d}subseteq
          M^{vee leq left( d-rright) }
          end{equation}

          for each $dinmathbb{Z}$.




          And as a consequence of this, we obtain the following:




          Corollary 4. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
          elements of $M$. Then,
          begin{equation}
          Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}M^{vee d}=0
          end{equation}

          for each $dinmathbb{Z}$ satisfying $d<r$.




          [In fact, Corollary 4 follows immediately from Corollary 3, because $d<r$
          implies $M^{vee leq left( d-rright) }=0$.]



          To make use of Corollary 4, we want a more-or-less explicit expression for how
          $Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}$ acts on maps in
          $mathbb{K}^{M}$. This is the following fact:




          Proposition 5. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
          elements of $M$. Then,
          begin{equation}
          left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}fright) left(
          mright) =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right)
          qquadtext{for each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
          end{equation}




          [Proposition 5 can be proven by induction over $r$, where the induction step
          involves splitting the sum on the right hand side into the part with the $I$
          that contain $r$ and the part with the $I$ that don't. But there is also a
          slicker argument, which needs some preparation. The maps $S_{x}in
          operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}}left( mathbb{K}^{M}right) $
          for
          different elements $xin M$ commute; better yet, they satisfy the
          multiplication rule $S_{x}S_{y}=S_{x+y}$ (as can be checked immediately).
          Hence, by induction over $leftvert Irightvert $, we conclude that if $I$
          is any finite set, and if $x_{i}$ is an element of $M$ for each $iin I$, then
          begin{equation}
          prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}=S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}
          qquad text{in the ring } operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}} left(mathbb{K}^Mright) .
          end{equation}

          I shall refer to this fact as the S-multiplication rule.



          Now, let us prove Proposition 5. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
          elements of $M$. Recall the well-known formula
          begin{equation}
          prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( 1-a_{i}right)
          =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }prodlimits_{iin I}a_{i},
          end{equation}

          which holds whenever $a_{1},a_{2},ldots,a_{r}$ are commuting elements of some
          ring. Applying this formula to $a_{i}=S_{x_{i}}$, we obtain
          begin{equation}
          prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( operatorname*{id}
          -S_{x_{i}}right) =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left(
          -1right) ^{leftvert Irightvert }prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}
          end{equation}

          (since $S_{x_{1}},S_{x_{2}},ldots,S_{x_{r}}$ are commuting elements of the
          ring $operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}}left( mathbb{K}^{M}right)
          $
          ). Thus,
          begin{align*}
          Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}} & =prodlimits_{iinleft{
          1,2,ldots,rright} }underbrace{Delta_{x_{i}}}
          _{substack{=operatorname*{id}-S_{x_{i}}\text{(by the definition of }
          Delta_{x_{i}}text{)}}}=prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left(
          operatorname*{id}-S_{x_{i}}right) \
          & =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }underbrace{prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}}
          _{substack{=S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}\text{(by the S-multiplication rule)}
          }}=sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}.
          end{align*}

          Hence, for each $min M$ and $finmathbb{K}^{M}$, we obtain
          begin{align*}
          & left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}fright) left(
          mright) \
          & =left( sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}fright) left( mright)
          \
          & =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }underbrace{left( S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}fright)
          left( mright) }_{substack{=fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right)
          \text{(by the definition of the shift operators)}}}\
          & =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) .
          end{align*}

          Thus, Proposition 5 is proven.]



          We can now combine Corollary 4 with Proposition 5 and obtain the following:




          Corollary 6. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$ elements of $M$. Let
          $dinmathbb{Z}$ be such that $d<r$. Let $fin M^{vee d}$ and $min M$. Then,
          begin{equation}
          sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) =0.
          end{equation}




          [Indeed, Corollary 6 follows from the computation
          begin{align*}
          & sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) \
          & =underbrace{left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}
          }fright) }_{substack{=0\text{(by Corollary 4, since } f in M^{vee d} text{)}}}left( mright)
          qquadleft( text{by Proposition 5}right) \
          & =0.
          end{align*}

          ]



          Finally, let us prove Theorem 1. The matrix ring $mathbb{K}^{ntimes n}$ is a
          $mathbb{K}$-module. Let $M$ be this $mathbb{K}$-module $mathbb{K}^{ntimes
          n}$
          . For each $i,jinleft{ 1,2,ldots,nright} $, we let $x_{i,j}$ be the
          map $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$ that sends each matrix $M$ to its $left(
          i,jright) $
          -th entry; this map $x_{i,j}$ is $mathbb{K}$-linear and thus
          belongs to $M^{vee}$.



          It is easy to see that the map $det:mathbb{K}^{ntimes n}rightarrow
          mathbb{K}$
          (sending each $ntimes n$-matrix to its determinant) is a
          homogeneous polynomial function of degree $n$ on $M$; indeed, it can be
          represented in the commutative $mathbb{K}$-algebra $mathbb{K}^M$ as
          begin{equation}
          det=sumlimits_{sigmain S_{n}}left( -1right) ^{sigma}x_{1,sigmaleft(
          1right) }x_{2,sigmaleft( 2right) }cdots x_{n,sigmaleft( nright)
          },
          end{equation}

          where $S_{n}$ is the $n$-th symmetric group, and where $left( -1right)
          ^{sigma}$
          denotes the sign of a permutation $sigma$. In other words,
          $detin M^{vee n}$. Hence, Corollary 6 (applied to $x_{i}=A_{i}$, $d=n$,
          $f=det$ and $m=0$) yields
          begin{equation}
          sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( 0+sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
          end{equation}

          In other words,
          begin{equation}
          sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
          end{equation}

          This proves Theorem 1. $blacksquare$






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$



          Let me outline two other proofs. Let me first rename your $m$ and $n$ as $n$
          and $r$, since I find it confusing when $n$ is not the size of the square
          matrices involved. So you are claiming the following:




          Theorem 1. Let $mathbb{K}$ be a commutative ring. Let $ninmathbb{N}$
          and $rinmathbb{N}$ be such that $n<r$. Let $A_{1},A_{2},ldots,A_{r}$ be
          $ntimes n$-matrices over $mathbb{K}$. Then,
          begin{equation}
          sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
          end{equation}




          Notice that I've snuck in one more little change into your formula: I've added
          the addend for $I=varnothing$. This addend usually doesn't contribute much,
          because $detleft( sumlimits_{iinvarnothing}A_{i}right) =detleft(
          0_{ntimes n}right) $
          is usually $0$... unless $n=0$, in which case it
          contributes $detleft( 0_{0times0}right) =1$ (keep in mind that there is
          only one $0times0$-matrix and its determinant is $1$), and the whole equality
          fails if this addend is missing.



          A first proof of Theorem 1 appears in (the solution to) Exercise 6.53 in my
          Notes on the combinatorial fundamentals of algebra, version of 10 January
          2019. (To obtain
          Theorem 1 from this exercise, set $G=left{ 1,2,ldots,rright} $.) The
          main idea of this proof is that Theorem 1 holds not only for determinants, but
          also for each of the $n!$ products that make up the determinant (assuming that
          you define the determinant of an $ntimes n$-matrix as a sum over the $n!$
          permutations); this is proven by interchanging summation signs and exploiting
          discrete "destructive interference" (i.e., the fact that if $G$ is a finite
          set and $R$ is a subset of $G$, then $sumlimits_{substack{Isubseteq
          G;\Rsubseteq I}}left( -1right) ^{leftvert Irightvert }=
          begin{cases}
          1, & text{if }R=G;\
          0, & text{if }Rneq G
          end{cases}
          $
          ).



          Let me now sketch a second proof of Theorem 1, which shows that it isn't
          really about determinants. It is about finite differences, in a slightly more
          general context than they are usually studied.



          Let $M$ be any $mathbb{K}$-module. The dual $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee
          }=operatorname{Hom}_{mathbb{K}}left( M,mathbb{K}right) $
          of
          $M$ consists of all $mathbb{K}$-linear maps $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. Thus,
          $M^{vee}$ is a $mathbb{K}$-submodule of the $mathbb{K}$-module
          $mathbb{K}^{M}$ of all maps $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. The $mathbb{K}
          $
          -module $mathbb{K}^{M}$ becomes a commutative $mathbb{K}$-algebra (we just
          define multiplication to be pointwise, i.e., the product $fg$ of two maps
          $f,g:Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$ sends each $min M$ to $fleft( mright)
          gleft( mright) inmathbb{K}$
          ).



          For any $dinmathbb{N}$, we let $M^{vee d}$ be the $mathbb{K}$-linear span
          of all elements of $mathbb{K}^{M}$ of the form $f_{1}f_{2}cdots f_{d}$ for
          $f_{1},f_{2},ldots,f_{d}in M^{vee}$. (For $d=0$, the only such element is
          the empty product $1$, so $M^{vee0}$ consists of the constant maps
          $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$. Notice also that $M^{vee1}=M^{vee}$.) The elements
          of $M^{vee d}$ are called homogeneous polynomial functions of degree $d$ on
          $M$
          . The underlying idea is that if $M$ is a free $mathbb{K}$-module with a
          given basis, then the elements of $M^{vee d}$ are the maps $Mrightarrow
          mathbb{K}$
          that can be expressed as polynomials of the coordinate functions
          with respect to this basis; but the $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee d}$ makes
          perfect sense whether or not $M$ is free.



          We also set $M^{vee d}=0$ (the zero $mathbb{K}$-submodule of $mathbb{K}
          ^{M}$
          ) for $d<0$.



          For each $d in mathbb{Z}$, we define a $mathbb{K}$-submodule
          $M^{vee leq d}$ of $mathbb{K}^M$ by
          begin{equation}
          M^{vee leq d} = sumlimits_{i leq d} M^{vee i} .
          end{equation}

          The elements of $M^{vee leq d}$ are called (inhomogeneous) polynomial
          functions of degree $leq d$ on $M$
          .
          The submodules $M^{vee leq d}$ satisfy
          begin{equation}
          M^{vee leq d} M^{vee leq e} subseteq M^{vee leq left(d+eright)}
          end{equation}

          for any integers $d$ and $e$.



          For any $xin M$, we define the $mathbb{K}$-linear map $S_{x}:mathbb{K}
          ^{M}rightarrowmathbb{K}^{M}$
          by setting
          begin{equation}
          left( S_{x}fright) left( mright) =fleft( m+xright) qquadtext{for
          each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
          end{equation}

          This map $S_{x}$ is called a shift operator. It is an endomorphism of the
          $mathbb{K}$-algebra $mathbb{K}^{M}$ and preserves all the $mathbb{K}
          $
          -submodules $M^{vee leq d}$ (for all $dinmathbb{Z}$).



          Moreover, for any $xin M$, we define the $mathbb{K}$-linear map $Delta
          _{x}:mathbb{K}^{M}rightarrowmathbb{K}^{M}$
          by $Delta_{x}
          =operatorname*{id}-S_{x}$
          . Hence,
          begin{equation}
          left( Delta_{x}fright) left( mright) =fleft( mright) -fleft(
          m+xright) qquadtext{for each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
          end{equation}

          This map $Delta_{x}$ is called a difference operator. The following crucial
          fact shows that it "decrements the degree" of a polynomial function, similarly
          to how differentiation decrements the degree of a polynomial:




          Lemma 2. Let $x in M$. Then,
          $Delta_{x}M^{vee d}subseteq M^{vee leq left( d-1right)}$
          for each $dinmathbb{Z}$.




          [Let me sketch a proof of Lemma 2:



          Lemma 2 clearly holds for $d < 0$ (since $M^{vee d} = 0$ if $d < 0$).
          Hence, it remains to prove Lemma 2 for $d geq 0$.
          We shall prove this by induction on $d$.
          The induction base is the case $d = 0$, which is easy to
          check (indeed, each $f in M^{vee 0}$ is a constant map, and thus
          satisfies $Delta_x f = 0$; therefore,
          $Delta_{x}M^{vee 0} = 0 subseteq M^{vee leq left( 0-1right) }$).



          For the induction step, we fix some nonnegative integer $e$, and assume
          that Lemma 2 holds for $d = e$. We must then show that Lemma 2
          holds for $d = e+1$.



          We have assumed that Lemma 2 holds for $d = e$.
          In other words, we have
          $Delta_{x}M^{vee e}subseteq M^{vee leq left( e-1right)}$.



          Our goal is to show that Lemma 2
          holds for $d = e+1$. In other words, our goal is to show
          that
          $Delta_{x}M^{vee left(e+1right)}subseteq M^{vee leq e}$.



          But the $mathbb{K}$-module $M^{vee left(e+1right)}$ is
          spanned by maps of the form $fg$ with $fin M^{vee e}$ and
          $gin M^{vee}$ (since it is spanned by products of the
          form $f_1 f_2 cdots f_{e+1}$ with
          $f_1, f_2, ldots, f_{e+1} in M^{vee}$, but each such
          product can be rewritten in the form $fg$
          with $f = f_1 f_2 cdots f_e in M^{vee e}$ and
          $g = f_{e+1} in M^{vee}$).
          Hence, it suffices to show that
          $Delta_x left( fg right) in M^{vee leq e}$
          for each $fin M^{vee e}$ and
          $gin M^{vee}$.



          Let us first notice that if $g in M^{vee}$ is arbitrary,
          then $Delta_x g$ is the constant map whose value is
          $- gleft(xright)$
          (because each $m in M$ satisfies
          begin{equation}
          left(Delta_x gright) left(mright)
          = gleft(mright) - underbrace{gleft(m+xright)}_{substack{=gleft(mright) + gleft(xright)\ text{(since }g text{ is } mathbb{K}text{-linear)}}}
          = gleft(mright) - left(gleft(mright) + gleft(xright)right)
          = - gleft(xright)
          end{equation}

          ), and thus belongs to $M^{vee 0}$.
          In other words, $Delta_x M^{vee} subseteq M^{vee 0}$.



          For each $f in mathbb{K}^M$ and $g in mathbb{K}^M$,
          we have
          begin{align*}
          Delta_{x}left( fgright) & =left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right)
          left( fgright) qquadleft( text{since }Delta_{x}=operatorname*{id}
          -S_{x}right) \
          & =fg-underbrace{S_{x}left( fgright) }_{substack{=left( S_{x}fright)
          left( S_{x}gright) \text{(since }S_{x}text{ is an endomorphism}
          \text{of the }mathbb{K}text{-algebra }mathbb{K}^{M}text{)}}}\
          & =fg-left( S_{x}fright) left( S_{x}gright) =underbrace{left(
          f-S_{x}fright) }_{=left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) f}g+left(
          S_{x}fright) underbrace{left( x-S_{x}gright) }_{=left(
          operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) g}\
          & =left( underbrace{left( operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) }_{=Delta
          _{x}}fright) g+left( S_{x}fright) left( underbrace{left(
          operatorname*{id}-S_{x}right) }_{=Delta_{x}}gright) \
          & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+left(
          underbrace{S_{x}}_{substack{=operatorname*{id}-Delta_{x}\
          text{(since }Delta
          _{x}=operatorname*{id}-S_{x}text{)}}}fright) left( Delta_{x}gright)
          \
          & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+underbrace{left( left(
          operatorname*{id}-Delta_{x}right) fright) }_{=f-Delta_{x}f}left(
          Delta_{x}gright) \
          & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+left( f-Delta_{x}fright) left(
          Delta_{x}gright) \
          & =left( Delta_{x}fright) g+fleft( Delta_{x}gright) -left(
          Delta_{x}fright) left( Delta_{x}gright) .
          end{align*}

          Hence, for each $fin M^{vee e}$ and $gin M^{vee}$, we have
          begin{align*}
          Delta_{x}left( fgright) & =left( Delta_{x}underbrace{f}_{in
          M^{vee e}}right) underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}+underbrace{f}_{in M^{vee
          e}}left( Delta_{x}underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}right) -left( Delta
          _{x}underbrace{f}_{in M^{vee e}}right)
          left( Delta_{x}underbrace{g}_{in M^{vee}}right) \
          & inunderbrace{left( Delta_{x}M^{vee e}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee
          leqleft( e-1right) }}M^{vee}+M^{vee e}underbrace{left( Delta
          _{x}M^{vee}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee0}}-underbrace{left( Delta
          _{x}M^{vee e}right) }_{subseteq M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }
          }underbrace{left( Delta_{x}M^{vee}right) }_{subseteq M^{vee0}}\
          & subsetequnderbrace{M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }M^{vee}}_{subseteq
          M^{veeleq e}}+underbrace{M^{vee e}M^{vee0}}_{subseteq M^{vee
          e}subseteq M^{veeleq e}}-underbrace{M^{veeleqleft( e-1right)
          }M^{vee0}}_{subseteq M^{veeleqleft( e-1right) }subseteq M^{veeleq
          e}}\
          & subseteq M^{veeleq e}+M^{veeleq e}-M^{veeleq e}subseteq M^{veeleq
          e}.
          end{align*}

          This proves that $Delta_{x}left( M^{veeleft( e+1right) }right)
          subseteq M^{veeleq e}$
          , as we intended to prove.



          Thus, the induction step is complete, and Lemma 2 is proven.]



          The following fact follows by induction using Lemma 2:




          Corollary 3. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
          elements of $M$. Then,
          begin{equation}
          Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}M^{vee d}subseteq
          M^{vee leq left( d-rright) }
          end{equation}

          for each $dinmathbb{Z}$.




          And as a consequence of this, we obtain the following:




          Corollary 4. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
          elements of $M$. Then,
          begin{equation}
          Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}M^{vee d}=0
          end{equation}

          for each $dinmathbb{Z}$ satisfying $d<r$.




          [In fact, Corollary 4 follows immediately from Corollary 3, because $d<r$
          implies $M^{vee leq left( d-rright) }=0$.]



          To make use of Corollary 4, we want a more-or-less explicit expression for how
          $Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}$ acts on maps in
          $mathbb{K}^{M}$. This is the following fact:




          Proposition 5. Let $rinmathbb{N}$. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
          elements of $M$. Then,
          begin{equation}
          left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}fright) left(
          mright) =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right)
          qquadtext{for each }min Mtext{ and }finmathbb{K}^{M}.
          end{equation}




          [Proposition 5 can be proven by induction over $r$, where the induction step
          involves splitting the sum on the right hand side into the part with the $I$
          that contain $r$ and the part with the $I$ that don't. But there is also a
          slicker argument, which needs some preparation. The maps $S_{x}in
          operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}}left( mathbb{K}^{M}right) $
          for
          different elements $xin M$ commute; better yet, they satisfy the
          multiplication rule $S_{x}S_{y}=S_{x+y}$ (as can be checked immediately).
          Hence, by induction over $leftvert Irightvert $, we conclude that if $I$
          is any finite set, and if $x_{i}$ is an element of $M$ for each $iin I$, then
          begin{equation}
          prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}=S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}
          qquad text{in the ring } operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}} left(mathbb{K}^Mright) .
          end{equation}

          I shall refer to this fact as the S-multiplication rule.



          Now, let us prove Proposition 5. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$
          elements of $M$. Recall the well-known formula
          begin{equation}
          prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( 1-a_{i}right)
          =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }prodlimits_{iin I}a_{i},
          end{equation}

          which holds whenever $a_{1},a_{2},ldots,a_{r}$ are commuting elements of some
          ring. Applying this formula to $a_{i}=S_{x_{i}}$, we obtain
          begin{equation}
          prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( operatorname*{id}
          -S_{x_{i}}right) =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left(
          -1right) ^{leftvert Irightvert }prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}
          end{equation}

          (since $S_{x_{1}},S_{x_{2}},ldots,S_{x_{r}}$ are commuting elements of the
          ring $operatorname{End}_{mathbb{K}}left( mathbb{K}^{M}right)
          $
          ). Thus,
          begin{align*}
          Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}} & =prodlimits_{iinleft{
          1,2,ldots,rright} }underbrace{Delta_{x_{i}}}
          _{substack{=operatorname*{id}-S_{x_{i}}\text{(by the definition of }
          Delta_{x_{i}}text{)}}}=prodlimits_{iinleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left(
          operatorname*{id}-S_{x_{i}}right) \
          & =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }underbrace{prodlimits_{iin I}S_{x_{i}}}
          _{substack{=S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}\text{(by the S-multiplication rule)}
          }}=sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}.
          end{align*}

          Hence, for each $min M$ and $finmathbb{K}^{M}$, we obtain
          begin{align*}
          & left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}}fright) left(
          mright) \
          & =left( sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}fright) left( mright)
          \
          & =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }underbrace{left( S_{sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}}fright)
          left( mright) }_{substack{=fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right)
          \text{(by the definition of the shift operators)}}}\
          & =sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) .
          end{align*}

          Thus, Proposition 5 is proven.]



          We can now combine Corollary 4 with Proposition 5 and obtain the following:




          Corollary 6. Let $x_{1},x_{2},ldots,x_{r}$ be $r$ elements of $M$. Let
          $dinmathbb{Z}$ be such that $d<r$. Let $fin M^{vee d}$ and $min M$. Then,
          begin{equation}
          sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) =0.
          end{equation}




          [Indeed, Corollary 6 follows from the computation
          begin{align*}
          & sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }fleft( m+sumlimits_{iin I}x_{i}right) \
          & =underbrace{left( Delta_{x_{1}}Delta_{x_{2}}cdotsDelta_{x_{r}
          }fright) }_{substack{=0\text{(by Corollary 4, since } f in M^{vee d} text{)}}}left( mright)
          qquadleft( text{by Proposition 5}right) \
          & =0.
          end{align*}

          ]



          Finally, let us prove Theorem 1. The matrix ring $mathbb{K}^{ntimes n}$ is a
          $mathbb{K}$-module. Let $M$ be this $mathbb{K}$-module $mathbb{K}^{ntimes
          n}$
          . For each $i,jinleft{ 1,2,ldots,nright} $, we let $x_{i,j}$ be the
          map $Mrightarrowmathbb{K}$ that sends each matrix $M$ to its $left(
          i,jright) $
          -th entry; this map $x_{i,j}$ is $mathbb{K}$-linear and thus
          belongs to $M^{vee}$.



          It is easy to see that the map $det:mathbb{K}^{ntimes n}rightarrow
          mathbb{K}$
          (sending each $ntimes n$-matrix to its determinant) is a
          homogeneous polynomial function of degree $n$ on $M$; indeed, it can be
          represented in the commutative $mathbb{K}$-algebra $mathbb{K}^M$ as
          begin{equation}
          det=sumlimits_{sigmain S_{n}}left( -1right) ^{sigma}x_{1,sigmaleft(
          1right) }x_{2,sigmaleft( 2right) }cdots x_{n,sigmaleft( nright)
          },
          end{equation}

          where $S_{n}$ is the $n$-th symmetric group, and where $left( -1right)
          ^{sigma}$
          denotes the sign of a permutation $sigma$. In other words,
          $detin M^{vee n}$. Hence, Corollary 6 (applied to $x_{i}=A_{i}$, $d=n$,
          $f=det$ and $m=0$) yields
          begin{equation}
          sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( 0+sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
          end{equation}

          In other words,
          begin{equation}
          sumlimits_{Isubseteqleft{ 1,2,ldots,rright} }left( -1right)
          ^{leftvert Irightvert }detleft( sumlimits_{iin I}A_{i}right) =0.
          end{equation}

          This proves Theorem 1. $blacksquare$







          share|cite|improve this answer














          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer








          edited Jan 10 at 2:43

























          answered Nov 19 '17 at 6:54









          darij grinbergdarij grinberg

          11.5k33168




          11.5k33168























              3












              $begingroup$

              Given integers $n > m > 0$, let $[n]$ be a short hand for the set ${1,ldots,n}$.



              For any $t in mathbb{R}$ and $x_1, ldots, x_n in mathbb{C}$, we have the identity



              $$prod_{k=1}^n (1 - e^{tx_k}) = sum_{P subset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} e^{tsum_{kin P} x_k}$$



              Treat both sides as function of $t$. Expand against $t$, one notice on LHS, coefficients in front of $t^k$ vanishes whenever $k < n$.
              By comparing coefficients of $t^m$, we obtain:



              $$ 0 = sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} left(sum_{kin P} x_kright)^mtag{*1}$$



              Notice RHS is a polynomial function in $x_1,ldots,x_n$ with integer coefficients. Since it evaluates to $0$ for all $(x_1,ldots,x_n) in mathbb{C}^n$, it is valid as a polynomial identity in $n$ indeterminates with integer coefficients. As a corollary, it is valid as an algebraic identity when $x_1, x_2, ldots, x_n$ are elements taken from any commutative algebra.



              Let $V$ be a vector space over $mathbb{C}$ spanned by
              elements $eta_1, ldots, eta_m$ and $bar{eta}_1,ldots,bar{eta}_m$.



              Let $Lambda^{e}(V) = bigoplus_{k=0}^n Lambda^{2k}(V)$ be the 'even' portion
              of its exterior algebra. $Lambda^{e}(V)$ itself is a commutative algebra.



              For any $m times m$ matrix $A$, let $tilde{A} in Lambda^e(V)$ be the element defined by:



              $$A = (a_{ij}) quadlongrightarrowquad tilde{A} = sum_{i=1}^msum_{j=1}^m a_{ij}bar{eta}_i wedge eta_j$$



              Notice the $m$-fold power of $tilde{A}$ satisfies an interesting identity:



              $$tilde{A}^m = underbrace{tilde{A} wedge cdots wedge tilde{A}}_{m text{ times}} = det(A) omega
              quadtext{ where }quad
              omega = m!, bar{eta}_1 wedge eta_1 wedge cdots wedge bar{eta}_m wedge eta_mtag{*2}$$



              Given any $n$-tuple of matrices $A_1, ldots, A_n in M_{mtimes m}(mathbb{C})$, if we substitute $x_k$ in $(*1)$ by $tilde{A}_k$ and apply $(*2)$, we find



              $$
              sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} left(sum_{kin P} tilde{A}_kright)^m
              = sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} detleft(sum_{kin P} A_kright)omega
              = 0
              $$
              Extracting the coefficient in front of $omega$, the desired identity follows:
              $$sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} detleft(sum_{kin P} A_kright) = 0$$






              share|cite|improve this answer











              $endgroup$













              • $begingroup$
                A very beautiful result and very beautiful proof!
                $endgroup$
                – Jair Taylor
                Nov 15 '17 at 18:22
















              3












              $begingroup$

              Given integers $n > m > 0$, let $[n]$ be a short hand for the set ${1,ldots,n}$.



              For any $t in mathbb{R}$ and $x_1, ldots, x_n in mathbb{C}$, we have the identity



              $$prod_{k=1}^n (1 - e^{tx_k}) = sum_{P subset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} e^{tsum_{kin P} x_k}$$



              Treat both sides as function of $t$. Expand against $t$, one notice on LHS, coefficients in front of $t^k$ vanishes whenever $k < n$.
              By comparing coefficients of $t^m$, we obtain:



              $$ 0 = sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} left(sum_{kin P} x_kright)^mtag{*1}$$



              Notice RHS is a polynomial function in $x_1,ldots,x_n$ with integer coefficients. Since it evaluates to $0$ for all $(x_1,ldots,x_n) in mathbb{C}^n$, it is valid as a polynomial identity in $n$ indeterminates with integer coefficients. As a corollary, it is valid as an algebraic identity when $x_1, x_2, ldots, x_n$ are elements taken from any commutative algebra.



              Let $V$ be a vector space over $mathbb{C}$ spanned by
              elements $eta_1, ldots, eta_m$ and $bar{eta}_1,ldots,bar{eta}_m$.



              Let $Lambda^{e}(V) = bigoplus_{k=0}^n Lambda^{2k}(V)$ be the 'even' portion
              of its exterior algebra. $Lambda^{e}(V)$ itself is a commutative algebra.



              For any $m times m$ matrix $A$, let $tilde{A} in Lambda^e(V)$ be the element defined by:



              $$A = (a_{ij}) quadlongrightarrowquad tilde{A} = sum_{i=1}^msum_{j=1}^m a_{ij}bar{eta}_i wedge eta_j$$



              Notice the $m$-fold power of $tilde{A}$ satisfies an interesting identity:



              $$tilde{A}^m = underbrace{tilde{A} wedge cdots wedge tilde{A}}_{m text{ times}} = det(A) omega
              quadtext{ where }quad
              omega = m!, bar{eta}_1 wedge eta_1 wedge cdots wedge bar{eta}_m wedge eta_mtag{*2}$$



              Given any $n$-tuple of matrices $A_1, ldots, A_n in M_{mtimes m}(mathbb{C})$, if we substitute $x_k$ in $(*1)$ by $tilde{A}_k$ and apply $(*2)$, we find



              $$
              sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} left(sum_{kin P} tilde{A}_kright)^m
              = sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} detleft(sum_{kin P} A_kright)omega
              = 0
              $$
              Extracting the coefficient in front of $omega$, the desired identity follows:
              $$sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} detleft(sum_{kin P} A_kright) = 0$$






              share|cite|improve this answer











              $endgroup$













              • $begingroup$
                A very beautiful result and very beautiful proof!
                $endgroup$
                – Jair Taylor
                Nov 15 '17 at 18:22














              3












              3








              3





              $begingroup$

              Given integers $n > m > 0$, let $[n]$ be a short hand for the set ${1,ldots,n}$.



              For any $t in mathbb{R}$ and $x_1, ldots, x_n in mathbb{C}$, we have the identity



              $$prod_{k=1}^n (1 - e^{tx_k}) = sum_{P subset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} e^{tsum_{kin P} x_k}$$



              Treat both sides as function of $t$. Expand against $t$, one notice on LHS, coefficients in front of $t^k$ vanishes whenever $k < n$.
              By comparing coefficients of $t^m$, we obtain:



              $$ 0 = sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} left(sum_{kin P} x_kright)^mtag{*1}$$



              Notice RHS is a polynomial function in $x_1,ldots,x_n$ with integer coefficients. Since it evaluates to $0$ for all $(x_1,ldots,x_n) in mathbb{C}^n$, it is valid as a polynomial identity in $n$ indeterminates with integer coefficients. As a corollary, it is valid as an algebraic identity when $x_1, x_2, ldots, x_n$ are elements taken from any commutative algebra.



              Let $V$ be a vector space over $mathbb{C}$ spanned by
              elements $eta_1, ldots, eta_m$ and $bar{eta}_1,ldots,bar{eta}_m$.



              Let $Lambda^{e}(V) = bigoplus_{k=0}^n Lambda^{2k}(V)$ be the 'even' portion
              of its exterior algebra. $Lambda^{e}(V)$ itself is a commutative algebra.



              For any $m times m$ matrix $A$, let $tilde{A} in Lambda^e(V)$ be the element defined by:



              $$A = (a_{ij}) quadlongrightarrowquad tilde{A} = sum_{i=1}^msum_{j=1}^m a_{ij}bar{eta}_i wedge eta_j$$



              Notice the $m$-fold power of $tilde{A}$ satisfies an interesting identity:



              $$tilde{A}^m = underbrace{tilde{A} wedge cdots wedge tilde{A}}_{m text{ times}} = det(A) omega
              quadtext{ where }quad
              omega = m!, bar{eta}_1 wedge eta_1 wedge cdots wedge bar{eta}_m wedge eta_mtag{*2}$$



              Given any $n$-tuple of matrices $A_1, ldots, A_n in M_{mtimes m}(mathbb{C})$, if we substitute $x_k$ in $(*1)$ by $tilde{A}_k$ and apply $(*2)$, we find



              $$
              sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} left(sum_{kin P} tilde{A}_kright)^m
              = sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} detleft(sum_{kin P} A_kright)omega
              = 0
              $$
              Extracting the coefficient in front of $omega$, the desired identity follows:
              $$sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} detleft(sum_{kin P} A_kright) = 0$$






              share|cite|improve this answer











              $endgroup$



              Given integers $n > m > 0$, let $[n]$ be a short hand for the set ${1,ldots,n}$.



              For any $t in mathbb{R}$ and $x_1, ldots, x_n in mathbb{C}$, we have the identity



              $$prod_{k=1}^n (1 - e^{tx_k}) = sum_{P subset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} e^{tsum_{kin P} x_k}$$



              Treat both sides as function of $t$. Expand against $t$, one notice on LHS, coefficients in front of $t^k$ vanishes whenever $k < n$.
              By comparing coefficients of $t^m$, we obtain:



              $$ 0 = sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} left(sum_{kin P} x_kright)^mtag{*1}$$



              Notice RHS is a polynomial function in $x_1,ldots,x_n$ with integer coefficients. Since it evaluates to $0$ for all $(x_1,ldots,x_n) in mathbb{C}^n$, it is valid as a polynomial identity in $n$ indeterminates with integer coefficients. As a corollary, it is valid as an algebraic identity when $x_1, x_2, ldots, x_n$ are elements taken from any commutative algebra.



              Let $V$ be a vector space over $mathbb{C}$ spanned by
              elements $eta_1, ldots, eta_m$ and $bar{eta}_1,ldots,bar{eta}_m$.



              Let $Lambda^{e}(V) = bigoplus_{k=0}^n Lambda^{2k}(V)$ be the 'even' portion
              of its exterior algebra. $Lambda^{e}(V)$ itself is a commutative algebra.



              For any $m times m$ matrix $A$, let $tilde{A} in Lambda^e(V)$ be the element defined by:



              $$A = (a_{ij}) quadlongrightarrowquad tilde{A} = sum_{i=1}^msum_{j=1}^m a_{ij}bar{eta}_i wedge eta_j$$



              Notice the $m$-fold power of $tilde{A}$ satisfies an interesting identity:



              $$tilde{A}^m = underbrace{tilde{A} wedge cdots wedge tilde{A}}_{m text{ times}} = det(A) omega
              quadtext{ where }quad
              omega = m!, bar{eta}_1 wedge eta_1 wedge cdots wedge bar{eta}_m wedge eta_mtag{*2}$$



              Given any $n$-tuple of matrices $A_1, ldots, A_n in M_{mtimes m}(mathbb{C})$, if we substitute $x_k$ in $(*1)$ by $tilde{A}_k$ and apply $(*2)$, we find



              $$
              sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} left(sum_{kin P} tilde{A}_kright)^m
              = sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} detleft(sum_{kin P} A_kright)omega
              = 0
              $$
              Extracting the coefficient in front of $omega$, the desired identity follows:
              $$sum_{Psubset [n]} (-1)^{|P|} detleft(sum_{kin P} A_kright) = 0$$







              share|cite|improve this answer














              share|cite|improve this answer



              share|cite|improve this answer








              edited Nov 16 '17 at 15:24

























              answered Nov 15 '17 at 16:19









              achille huiachille hui

              96.4k5132261




              96.4k5132261












              • $begingroup$
                A very beautiful result and very beautiful proof!
                $endgroup$
                – Jair Taylor
                Nov 15 '17 at 18:22


















              • $begingroup$
                A very beautiful result and very beautiful proof!
                $endgroup$
                – Jair Taylor
                Nov 15 '17 at 18:22
















              $begingroup$
              A very beautiful result and very beautiful proof!
              $endgroup$
              – Jair Taylor
              Nov 15 '17 at 18:22




              $begingroup$
              A very beautiful result and very beautiful proof!
              $endgroup$
              – Jair Taylor
              Nov 15 '17 at 18:22











              0












              $begingroup$

              HINT:



              The determinant of an $ntimes n$ matrix is a form of degree $n$. Forms come from multilinear forms.



              Consider $M$ an abelian group. For $a in M$, denote by $a^{[n]}$ the element $aotimes a otimes ldots otimes ain M^{otimes n}$. Let now $a_iin M$, $i in I$, finitely many elements in $M$. Let's try to find
              $$sum_{Jsubset I}(-1)^{|I|-|J|}(sum_{i in J} a_i)^{[n]}$$



              Consider a product $a_{i_1}otimes ldots otimes a_{i_n}$. It appears in the above sum with the coefficient
              $$sum_{Jsubset K subset I}(-1)^{|I| - |J|}$$ where $J={i_1, ldots, i_n }$. This is $0$ for $Jne I$ and $1$ for $J=I$. ( a Möbius function)



              Therefore
              $$sum_{Jsubset I}(-1)^{|I|-|J|}(sum_{i in J} a_i)^{[n]}=sum_{phicolon {1,ldots n}to I,phi text{surjective}}a_{phi(1)}otimes ldots a_{phi(n)}$$



              Particular cases:




              1. $|I|>n$, we get $0$, the result desired.


              2. $|I|=n$, we get $sum_{phicolon {1,ldots n}to I,phi text{bijective}}a_{phi(1)}otimes ldots a_{phi(n)}$







              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$


















                0












                $begingroup$

                HINT:



                The determinant of an $ntimes n$ matrix is a form of degree $n$. Forms come from multilinear forms.



                Consider $M$ an abelian group. For $a in M$, denote by $a^{[n]}$ the element $aotimes a otimes ldots otimes ain M^{otimes n}$. Let now $a_iin M$, $i in I$, finitely many elements in $M$. Let's try to find
                $$sum_{Jsubset I}(-1)^{|I|-|J|}(sum_{i in J} a_i)^{[n]}$$



                Consider a product $a_{i_1}otimes ldots otimes a_{i_n}$. It appears in the above sum with the coefficient
                $$sum_{Jsubset K subset I}(-1)^{|I| - |J|}$$ where $J={i_1, ldots, i_n }$. This is $0$ for $Jne I$ and $1$ for $J=I$. ( a Möbius function)



                Therefore
                $$sum_{Jsubset I}(-1)^{|I|-|J|}(sum_{i in J} a_i)^{[n]}=sum_{phicolon {1,ldots n}to I,phi text{surjective}}a_{phi(1)}otimes ldots a_{phi(n)}$$



                Particular cases:




                1. $|I|>n$, we get $0$, the result desired.


                2. $|I|=n$, we get $sum_{phicolon {1,ldots n}to I,phi text{bijective}}a_{phi(1)}otimes ldots a_{phi(n)}$







                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$
















                  0












                  0








                  0





                  $begingroup$

                  HINT:



                  The determinant of an $ntimes n$ matrix is a form of degree $n$. Forms come from multilinear forms.



                  Consider $M$ an abelian group. For $a in M$, denote by $a^{[n]}$ the element $aotimes a otimes ldots otimes ain M^{otimes n}$. Let now $a_iin M$, $i in I$, finitely many elements in $M$. Let's try to find
                  $$sum_{Jsubset I}(-1)^{|I|-|J|}(sum_{i in J} a_i)^{[n]}$$



                  Consider a product $a_{i_1}otimes ldots otimes a_{i_n}$. It appears in the above sum with the coefficient
                  $$sum_{Jsubset K subset I}(-1)^{|I| - |J|}$$ where $J={i_1, ldots, i_n }$. This is $0$ for $Jne I$ and $1$ for $J=I$. ( a Möbius function)



                  Therefore
                  $$sum_{Jsubset I}(-1)^{|I|-|J|}(sum_{i in J} a_i)^{[n]}=sum_{phicolon {1,ldots n}to I,phi text{surjective}}a_{phi(1)}otimes ldots a_{phi(n)}$$



                  Particular cases:




                  1. $|I|>n$, we get $0$, the result desired.


                  2. $|I|=n$, we get $sum_{phicolon {1,ldots n}to I,phi text{bijective}}a_{phi(1)}otimes ldots a_{phi(n)}$







                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  HINT:



                  The determinant of an $ntimes n$ matrix is a form of degree $n$. Forms come from multilinear forms.



                  Consider $M$ an abelian group. For $a in M$, denote by $a^{[n]}$ the element $aotimes a otimes ldots otimes ain M^{otimes n}$. Let now $a_iin M$, $i in I$, finitely many elements in $M$. Let's try to find
                  $$sum_{Jsubset I}(-1)^{|I|-|J|}(sum_{i in J} a_i)^{[n]}$$



                  Consider a product $a_{i_1}otimes ldots otimes a_{i_n}$. It appears in the above sum with the coefficient
                  $$sum_{Jsubset K subset I}(-1)^{|I| - |J|}$$ where $J={i_1, ldots, i_n }$. This is $0$ for $Jne I$ and $1$ for $J=I$. ( a Möbius function)



                  Therefore
                  $$sum_{Jsubset I}(-1)^{|I|-|J|}(sum_{i in J} a_i)^{[n]}=sum_{phicolon {1,ldots n}to I,phi text{surjective}}a_{phi(1)}otimes ldots a_{phi(n)}$$



                  Particular cases:




                  1. $|I|>n$, we get $0$, the result desired.


                  2. $|I|=n$, we get $sum_{phicolon {1,ldots n}to I,phi text{bijective}}a_{phi(1)}otimes ldots a_{phi(n)}$








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                  answered Nov 26 '17 at 22:41









                  Orest BucicovschiOrest Bucicovschi

                  28.6k31748




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