Array formulas in Excel allow you to perform complex calculations that involve multiple cells. These formulas can handle multiple values at once, returning either a single result or multiple results. They are powerful tools that can simplify tasks such as summing multiple ranges, performing matrix multiplications, and more.
Use Array Formulas to Perform Complex Calculations Over a Range of Cells
Array formulas are a powerful feature in Excel that enables users to perform advanced calculations on ranges of cells. Unlike regular formulas, which operate on single cells, array formulas can process a range of cells and return either a single result or an array of results. This makes them particularly useful for tasks such as summing multiple ranges, finding unique values, and performing matrix operations.
Example
Here’s a simple example to illustrate how array formulas work. Suppose we have a list of sales data for different products and want to calculate the total sales for each product category.
| Product | Category | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Product A | Category 1 | 100 |
| Product B | Category 2 | 150 |
| Product C | Category 1 | 200 |
| Product D | Category 3 | 250 |
| Product E | Category 2 | 300 |
Exercise
Task: Use an array formula to calculate the total sales for each category.
Solution
To solve this, we can use the SUMIF function along with array formulas. Here’s how the sheet will look:
| Category | Total Sales |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | {Array Formula} |
| Category 2 | {Array Formula} |
| Category 3 | {Array Formula} |
Array Formula to Use:
In cell B2 (for Category 1 total sales), you can enter the following array formula:
=SUMIF(B2:B6, "Category 1", C2:C6)Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to make it an array formula. Repeat for the other categories, changing the criteria accordingly.
Explanation of the Solution:
The SUMIF function calculates the total sales for each category. The array formula processes the entire range of sales data, applying the sum conditionally based on the specified category. When you press Ctrl + Shift + Enter, Excel treats this as an array formula, handling multiple cells at once.