TITLE: If $ \operatorname{Tr}(M^k) = \operatorname{Tr}(N^k)\;\forall 1\leq k \leq n$, then how do we show the $M$ and $N$ have the same eigenvalues?
QUESTION [19 upvotes]: Let $M,N$ be $n \times n$ square matrices over an algebraically closed field with the properties that the trace of both matrices coincides along with all powers of the matrix. More specifically, suppose that $\mathrm{Tr}(M^k) = \mathrm{Tr}(N^k)$ for all $1\leq k \leq n$. The following questions about eigenvalues is then natural and I was thinking it would be an application of Cayley-Hamilton but I am having trouble writing out a proof.
How do we show that $M$ and $N$ have the same eigenvalues?
Added (because this question is now target of many duplicates, it should state its hypotheses properly). Assume that all the mentioned values of $k$ are nonzero in the field considered; in other words either the field is of characteristic $0$, or else its prime characteristic $p$ satisfies $p>n$.

REPLY [3 votes]: What about this one?
We know that if $\psi_A(x) = |xI_n - A| = x^n+c_{n-1}x^{n-1}+c_{n-2}x^{n-2}+\cdots+c_1x+c_0I_n$ be characteristic polynomial of $A$ (thus $c_0 = (-1)^n|A|$), then the coefficients are given by 
$$c_{n-m}=\frac{(-1)^m}{m}\left|
                              \begin{array}{ccccc}
                                t_1 & m-1 & 0 & \cdots &  0 \\
                                t_2 & t_1 & m-2 & \cdots &  0  \\
                                \vdots  & \vdots &   &   &  \vdots \\
                                t_{m-1} & t_{m-2} & t_2 & t_1 & 1 \\
                                t_m & t_{m-1} & t_3 & t_2 & t_1 \\
                              \end{array}
                            \right|$$ 
where $t_r:= \operatorname{tr}(A^r)$.
Assume that $\psi_{M}(x)=x^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+a_{n-2}x^{n-2}+\cdots+a_1x+a_0I_n$ and $\psi_N(x)=x^n+b_{n-1}x^{n-1}+b_{n-2}x^{n-2}+\cdots+b_1x+b_0I_n$. Then $$a_r=b_r$$ (by using $\operatorname{tr}(M^k) = \operatorname{tr}(N^k)$ and the above determinant). 
Hence $\psi_M(x)=\psi_N(x)$ which means $M$ and $N$ will have same eigenvalues.