As users develop their skills within Microsoft Excel, they discover new possibilities within the spreadsheet. In this situation, it is a question of working with matrices or two-dimensional arrays.
Depending on the educational level, everyone knows matrices as a set of logically related values arranged in columns and rows. Likewise, the types of data and elements that make up the matrix depend on the dimensions that it has.
How can they be defined?
A matrix is defined as a two-dimensional table that contains a series of numbers of abstract quantities on which all kinds of operations can be performed.
In the same way, arrays are sets of elements added to the spreadsheet sequentially. Which may vary depending on the type of data.
The arrays are classified by dimensions, which will determine the list and column that will contain the elements. Arrays are subject to change so it is possible to resize them. Knowing this, in case the array has two dimensions, it may contain the informative data that a matrix contains.
Because Excel is capable of performing mathematical operations through the use of the indicated formulas, a real number can be designated in each box of the spreadsheet to provide it as data to work with.
Everything will depend on the organizational capacity you have to work with matrices or two-dimensional arrays setting the value in the indicated place.
Another option that Excel offers you is to fill the sheet data in a vector.
Reasons to create a formula to work with two-dimensional arrays
Also being able to be established as matrix formulas, the objective is to create a series of mathematical operations to ensure the efficiency of the calculation between data.
One of the biggest problems is that this type of complex operations cannot be executed by the common functions of Excel spreadsheets.
Some people who have an advanced command of this Microsoft tool call them CSE formulas, that is, “ Ctrl + Shift + Enter ”.
This is because it is the necessary sequence in which the keys must be pressed in order to write the formula in the software. However, despite being considered as impossible operations, it can be achieved through it:
- Count the number of characters in a given range of cells.
- Sum each value in a specified range of values.
- Finally, add those numbers that meet specific conditions. Such as the lowest values or the numbers that comprise upper or lower bounds within the matrix.
Array formulas for Excel
Although working with matrices or two-dimensional arrays has seemed an impossible method until now, here you will find the simple way to achieve it.
The general objective is to perform a mathematical operation on several elements that belong to a matrix, so you should be guided by the following example:
Take the case in which your spreadsheet has three columns (A, B, and C) and is displayed in a total of eleven rows that contain the data in the form of numbers.
The steps demonstrated here will be to multiply the values in column B by those that are reflected in column C so that the result appears in column D.
Begin by selecting the range of cells from D2 to D11 and continue typing ” = B2: B11 * C2: C11 ” in the formula bar without pressing ” Enter .”
As soon as you have completed this step, press the combination of keys that was discussed above (” Ctrl + Shift + Enter “) so that Excel will take care of giving you the result.
Excel has a characteristic method of evidencing the use of a matrix formula, surrounding what you have written in the bar between braces at the moment in which column D is filled with the requested results.
To work in Excel quickly and easily, we recommend that you use the macro function, which will allow you to set action and save it to be able to use it at another time. You can also use FormatConditions to add conditional formatting.